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Scottish Charm #1
One-Off
How much would you endure for your best friend? Would you plan an elaborate event that you don't believe in? Put up with a woman you never wanted to see again? Fake enthusiasm for an unrealistic pipe dream? Skye MacKinnon is forced to answer these questions when she's asked to be her best friend's maid of honor. As a cynic, she rejects the notion of marital bliss, but for a friend, she'll give it her best effort. That becomes more difficult the moment she learns that her old college nemesis, Ainsley Baird, will be playing an important role in the wedding. Brilliant, beautiful Ainsley has many talents, chief among them is irritating Skye. Knowing how easily Ainsley pushes her buttons, Skye just hopes to get through the wedding without needing someone to post her bail.
258 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 26, 2015
38 people are currently reading
404 people want to read
About the author
Lynn Galli
19 books267 followersLynn Galli calls the Pacific Northwest home even though she's never written any software code, built an airplane, worn socks with sandals, or slung coffee. For the most part, she enjoys her real job but absolutely lives for the time she gets to spend writing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
June 22, 2017
An ok read! likable characters,nice love story,not as good as her previous books(minus 1 star)..but good storytelling...
May 3, 2016
I already wrote this review once but Goodreads ate it so ill make this quick... I loved this! This is the first book I have read by Galli, and I have no idea why I waited so long. Her writing is wonderful and the romance was sweet and believable. It was a slow building romance that truly showed the chemistry between the characters. And the one intimate scene the book had was pretty steamy.
This book does have a lot of wedding prep. At first I was worried I was going to be bored, but as I got into the story, the book flew by and I actually wished it was longer.
This is a great book to recommend for romance fans, as long as you don't despise weddings.
This book does have a lot of wedding prep. At first I was worried I was going to be bored, but as I got into the story, the book flew by and I actually wished it was longer.
This is a great book to recommend for romance fans, as long as you don't despise weddings.
January 6, 2016
I adore this book. It made me laugh, smile, and best of all it pulled at my heart strings. I have read quite a few of Lynn Galli's novels, this one in my humble opinion is her best. It is amazing! I have read a plethora (love that word) of romance novels and this is absolutely one of the best.
Right from the start of the book you are thrown into the crazy world of wedding planning. The main character is the maid of honor, Skye, and while she is happy for the bride and groom, she is anti-wedding. WHAT! Our other main character is Ainsley. Ainsley just happens to be the groom's best woman and cousin. Small world is these two happened to be college roommates at Columbia, and are not exactly on best terms. Foes if you will.
Thanks to the fast paced world of news reporting, the bride and groom jet off in the middle of planning their wedding to catch a new story. Skye and Ainsley are left holding the bag and forced to spend copious amounts of time together planning the dream wedding of their friends. These two banter, like an old married couple. They are witty and terribly funny at the expense of the other's feelings. Their dislike for each other makes for a fascinating progression from animosity to love.
This is solid romance filled with humor, friendship and great storytelling. I wanted to start it again as soon as I finished. You will not be disappointed. One Off is fantastic.
Right from the start of the book you are thrown into the crazy world of wedding planning. The main character is the maid of honor, Skye, and while she is happy for the bride and groom, she is anti-wedding. WHAT! Our other main character is Ainsley. Ainsley just happens to be the groom's best woman and cousin. Small world is these two happened to be college roommates at Columbia, and are not exactly on best terms. Foes if you will.
Thanks to the fast paced world of news reporting, the bride and groom jet off in the middle of planning their wedding to catch a new story. Skye and Ainsley are left holding the bag and forced to spend copious amounts of time together planning the dream wedding of their friends. These two banter, like an old married couple. They are witty and terribly funny at the expense of the other's feelings. Their dislike for each other makes for a fascinating progression from animosity to love.
This is solid romance filled with humor, friendship and great storytelling. I wanted to start it again as soon as I finished. You will not be disappointed. One Off is fantastic.
November 5, 2018
Not many books, lesbian fiction books specifically, tend to take place in my hometown. This one doesn't either but it is set in Washington DC, where I worked from 2002-2010 and the 2018-. I had to remind myself a little to often that it was set here as it seemed light on area detail (which is unfortunate as there are some rather nice things here that could have worked as a setting. They even visited some of those locations - just 'off page's.
Great book. Like the characters (less Dallas & Colin). Was planning to reread this book at some point and the brand new sequel pushed the reread forward faster than it might otherwise have occurred.
Great book. Like the characters (less Dallas & Colin). Was planning to reread this book at some point and the brand new sequel pushed the reread forward faster than it might otherwise have occurred.
November 28, 2018
This is a tough one for me to rate because there is so much I liked but also quite a bit that I didn't. Skye MacKinnon, an executive content editor at a news broadcaster, is badgered by her best friend, Dallas, to be her maid of honour at her wedding. Dallas and her co-host/fiance, Colin, get a big lead on a story they've been investigating for their show and rush off to follow it up leaving Skye to plan their wedding with Colin's best woman, Ainsley. There are so many problems with this for Skye, not least of which is her animosity for Ainsley who was her housemate 14 years previously.
I'll start with what I did like. I've read six books by Galli and enjoyed them all. I like the way she writes and love the dialogue between her characters. Skye and Ainsley had a lot of great dialogue and witty banter going for them. I was drawn into the story in spite of my dislike for the subject matter and thought the characters were a fantastic match.
On the downside, they took a really long time to get there. I don't mind slow-burn romances but I couldn't help feeling that there were a number of times that they could have made a teasing connection much earlier in the novel. I don't really get the planning of a wedding that seems more like an extravaganza than a celebration of love and so much of the book was spent on things that I see as completely pointless which made it difficult for me because that was the premise of the story. I liked that Skye was going to organise it come hell or high water because it was in her character to be a good with details and programming even though she herself didn't think much of weddings.
I wish Ainsley had been written with a little more of an accent. I had to keep reminding myself that she was Scottish because there wasn't enough in her speech to reflect it. While it didn't need as broad as this:
Whit's wi' this pronunciation of 'Sixth' as 'Sickth' wi' the TV people? Is this new? Have ah just missed it for nearly 40 years? It's drivin' me mental, they're all at it! Furthermore why dae ma ain Scots weans pronounce the letter H as 'Haitch' instead of 'Aitch'.
A few more words that are uniquely Scottish would have helped.
My rating is probably at 3.5 stars but I'm going to round down and largely because of the wedding planning theme.
I'll start with what I did like. I've read six books by Galli and enjoyed them all. I like the way she writes and love the dialogue between her characters. Skye and Ainsley had a lot of great dialogue and witty banter going for them. I was drawn into the story in spite of my dislike for the subject matter and thought the characters were a fantastic match.
On the downside, they took a really long time to get there. I don't mind slow-burn romances but I couldn't help feeling that there were a number of times that they could have made a teasing connection much earlier in the novel. I don't really get the planning of a wedding that seems more like an extravaganza than a celebration of love and so much of the book was spent on things that I see as completely pointless which made it difficult for me because that was the premise of the story. I liked that Skye was going to organise it come hell or high water because it was in her character to be a good with details and programming even though she herself didn't think much of weddings.
I wish Ainsley had been written with a little more of an accent. I had to keep reminding myself that she was Scottish because there wasn't enough in her speech to reflect it. While it didn't need as broad as this:
Whit's wi' this pronunciation of 'Sixth' as 'Sickth' wi' the TV people? Is this new? Have ah just missed it for nearly 40 years? It's drivin' me mental, they're all at it! Furthermore why dae ma ain Scots weans pronounce the letter H as 'Haitch' instead of 'Aitch'.
A few more words that are uniquely Scottish would have helped.
My rating is probably at 3.5 stars but I'm going to round down and largely because of the wedding planning theme.
March 5, 2019
This review for my second read - I'm upping the stars from 4 to 5 Stars!
I read this about 3 years ago when it first came out and I didn't write a review at that time. I wanted to re-read it again before I read Galli's sequel to this book, Speak Low.
I had forgotten how humorous this was, especially as we get to know Skye, the banter between her and Ainsley and the adventures in wedding planning. This is a slow burn romance and very satisfying one. BTW: Skye describes a one-off as someone who is unique, special and dear - someone pretty rare.
Skye MacKinnon is a the Director of News at a major TV news station (think CNN or MNBC). Skye's 3 least favorite things are weddings, churches and having her photo taken. However, her BFF, Dallas Knight asks her to be her Maid of Honor. For Dallas, she reluctantly agrees. Dallas is also Skye's star anchor and Dallas is marrying her co-anchor Colin. Colin wants his Scottish BFF and cousin, Ainsley Baird to be his "Best Woman". Surprise! Skye and Ainsley were college roommates at Columbia. Skye was finishing up her Graduate studies and Ainsley her undergraduate degree. However, they could not stand each other. The years apart has not changed their minds. But then Dallas and Colin are sent out of the country on an assignment and leaving the wedding planning to Skye and Ainsley which is to take place in 3 and a half weeks!
Galli is one of my favorite authors. Re-reading this book reminded me why I love her books. The dialogue is great and her main and minor characters are all well written. In her bio for this book Galli said that for 4 years, she was a professional wedding planner - which lent to the authenticity of the planning and all the things that can go wrong when planning a wedding.
Off to read the sequel - "Speak Low". Which came out in Oct 2018 and somehow I missed it!
I read this about 3 years ago when it first came out and I didn't write a review at that time. I wanted to re-read it again before I read Galli's sequel to this book, Speak Low.
I had forgotten how humorous this was, especially as we get to know Skye, the banter between her and Ainsley and the adventures in wedding planning. This is a slow burn romance and very satisfying one. BTW: Skye describes a one-off as someone who is unique, special and dear - someone pretty rare.
Skye MacKinnon is a the Director of News at a major TV news station (think CNN or MNBC). Skye's 3 least favorite things are weddings, churches and having her photo taken. However, her BFF, Dallas Knight asks her to be her Maid of Honor. For Dallas, she reluctantly agrees. Dallas is also Skye's star anchor and Dallas is marrying her co-anchor Colin. Colin wants his Scottish BFF and cousin, Ainsley Baird to be his "Best Woman". Surprise! Skye and Ainsley were college roommates at Columbia. Skye was finishing up her Graduate studies and Ainsley her undergraduate degree. However, they could not stand each other. The years apart has not changed their minds. But then Dallas and Colin are sent out of the country on an assignment and leaving the wedding planning to Skye and Ainsley which is to take place in 3 and a half weeks!
Galli is one of my favorite authors. Re-reading this book reminded me why I love her books. The dialogue is great and her main and minor characters are all well written. In her bio for this book Galli said that for 4 years, she was a professional wedding planner - which lent to the authenticity of the planning and all the things that can go wrong when planning a wedding.
Off to read the sequel - "Speak Low". Which came out in Oct 2018 and somehow I missed it!
October 19, 2018
This romantic tale joins a wedding planning, fun hen party, say yes to the dress-dress fitting, a wedding, Chapter 14 - a bookmark worthy chapter.
How amazing the hs are in their careers + wonderful characterizations + history, north pole meets north pole slow burn magnetic attraction, fantastic secondary characters.
When Ainsley's career seperates them, take a listen to Spending My Time by Roxette, that song is quite perfect for such scene.
Dear Ms.Galli, Morgan needs a H.E.A too, she's a remarkable woman, mama, friend and florist.
This book is unavailable on KU & Scribd
Kindle price USD7.99
An A+ read :)
How amazing the hs are in their careers + wonderful characterizations + history, north pole meets north pole slow burn magnetic attraction, fantastic secondary characters.
When Ainsley's career seperates them, take a listen to Spending My Time by Roxette, that song is quite perfect for such scene.
Dear Ms.Galli, Morgan needs a H.E.A too, she's a remarkable woman, mama, friend and florist.
This book is unavailable on KU & Scribd
Kindle price USD7.99
An A+ read :)
February 15, 2018
4.2 stars. I liked it. It's one of those enemies to lovers books, probably the best one I've read so far using the theme. Their bickering is incredibly entertaining.
Both main leading ladies are well developed. I can't say I connected to either of them that deeply but it's also not like I didn't care for them. I was invested in their love/hate relationship and most of all it's entertaining as hell. The side characters were also great. From best friend Dallas to the little girl Poppy, it's a really memorable side cast.
Where the book could be better is its pacing. Their shenanigans got repetitive towards the end. They spend most of the book bickering (not building a relationship) and then It's not terrible or anything but I feel it could be better paced than it is.
Overall a very charming read indeed.
Both main leading ladies are well developed. I can't say I connected to either of them that deeply but it's also not like I didn't care for them. I was invested in their love/hate relationship and most of all it's entertaining as hell. The side characters were also great. From best friend Dallas to the little girl Poppy, it's a really memorable side cast.
Where the book could be better is its pacing. Their shenanigans got repetitive towards the end. They spend most of the book bickering (not building a relationship) and then It's not terrible or anything but I feel it could be better paced than it is.
Overall a very charming read indeed.
May 4, 2016
I didn't like this one. I don't like weddings much more than Skye does, and there was just way too much wedding prep in this book. If you need a how to on getting a wedding planned quickly, then this is the book for you. Otherwise, you'll be bored, as I was.
As is the norm for Galli, this is told in first person, which means we get to know a lot about Skye, who is a great character, but not so much about Ainsley, who has a stick up her butt for the greater portion of the book in regards to Skye, and no real reason for why.
Our two leads do spend a lot of time together but most of it is spent bickering or not delving too far beneath the surface. So when they did get together I didn't really care. One-off is accurate, I won't read this one again.
As is the norm for Galli, this is told in first person, which means we get to know a lot about Skye, who is a great character, but not so much about Ainsley, who has a stick up her butt for the greater portion of the book in regards to Skye, and no real reason for why.
Our two leads do spend a lot of time together but most of it is spent bickering or not delving too far beneath the surface. So when they did get together I didn't really care. One-off is accurate, I won't read this one again.
January 13, 2016
This was such a fun read. However... My review would've been quite different if I'd written it before reading the last chapter and the epilogue. I was so disappointed at most of the ending.
Don't get me wrong, I love romantic happy endings and all that stuff. But this bothered me a lot. Spoiler-free short version: things escalated very quickly. Like, way too quickly. I was looking forward to praising how nicely paced the story was, how the progress of their relationship felt natural and amazing to read, but my opinion on that does not apply to the last chapter.
Spoiler-y, longer version:
So, excluding the ending, I pretty much loved everything else. The wedding planning stuff annoyed me at first but, even though I loved Dallas, I was glad when she and Colin left to pursue the news story and the plot focused on just Skye and Ainsley. I loved the stuff about Skye's job and all the criticism of the obnoxious conservative white men she had to deal with. Skye and Ainsley's dynamic was delightful, and so often I wanted to scream at Skye to stop thinking Ainsley hated her. I feel like the author could've done better with the explanations of why they hated each other in the first place back in college, but it was nice to see Skye slowly start to forget that herself as they got to know each other better.
Overall, as I said, this was a really fun read. I wish what happened at the ending hadn't felt so rushed, but I won't let it ruin how great all the rest of the book was.
Don't get me wrong, I love romantic happy endings and all that stuff. But this bothered me a lot. Spoiler-free short version: things escalated very quickly. Like, way too quickly. I was looking forward to praising how nicely paced the story was, how the progress of their relationship felt natural and amazing to read, but my opinion on that does not apply to the last chapter.
Spoiler-y, longer version:
So, excluding the ending, I pretty much loved everything else. The wedding planning stuff annoyed me at first but, even though I loved Dallas, I was glad when she and Colin left to pursue the news story and the plot focused on just Skye and Ainsley. I loved the stuff about Skye's job and all the criticism of the obnoxious conservative white men she had to deal with. Skye and Ainsley's dynamic was delightful, and so often I wanted to scream at Skye to stop thinking Ainsley hated her. I feel like the author could've done better with the explanations of why they hated each other in the first place back in college, but it was nice to see Skye slowly start to forget that herself as they got to know each other better.
Overall, as I said, this was a really fun read. I wish what happened at the ending hadn't felt so rushed, but I won't let it ruin how great all the rest of the book was.
June 9, 2016
I would say this book is pretty good. My exact rating would be 4.5 stars. And why is that? Well, i liked the pace of the book until i reached the end. The characters are well constructed and i really laugh out loud with the interaction between Skye and Ainsley. They are really quite a pair XD.
But i didn't like the end. For me it seemed rush. For someone as cynical as Skye, rushing not only into a realtionship, but also into a marriage like that...it didn't fit. And that's why i don't give the book the five stars that otherwise would have deserved.
But i didn't like the end. For me it seemed rush. For someone as cynical as Skye, rushing not only into a realtionship, but also into a marriage like that...it didn't fit. And that's why i don't give the book the five stars that otherwise would have deserved.
December 4, 2018
Just reread this to prepare for the next book. Still loved it.
July 11, 2021
4.4 stars Liked it very much.
October 29, 2015
4.5
Awesome.
Entertaining, exciting, and romantic. I didn't want it to end.
Awesome.
Entertaining, exciting, and romantic. I didn't want it to end.
January 11, 2016
An enjoyable read filled with witty dialogues.
March 31, 2017
Maybe it's just me but I feel like the characters here lack the dept from those in Lynn Galli's other books; it was just hard to connect. And there was a rush ending, not enough romance and too much wedding prep it gave me quite a scare :)).
October 8, 2019
This is actually a review for my second read of One-Off. I recently decided to reread several books I enjoyed or remembered from earlier readings. This was one I decided to reread. When choosing it as a reread I discovered book 2. I had no idea. I have to admit, Lynn Galli used to be a favorite author of mine. So many outstanding lesfic authors now though, she has dropped quite a bit in 4/5 years.
My second reading of this one actually dropped my rating. I remembered really enjoying it when I read it the first time. Ainsley and Skye are likable but not my favorites by this author. I didn't feel a whole lot of chemistry this read. The book got a chuckle out of me a couple of times. It did make me want to reread some of Galli's other books though. I also picked up the second in this series and will be reading it next.
I will give this one another go in a few months and see where it lands after yet another read. Odd how our love/like for books change with time, based on our recently read list.
I would purchase and read anything by this author. If you are a fan of Galli you will probably enjoy this one, if you haven't picked up one of her books yet perhaps start with her Virginia Clan series. Just my opinion though.
My second reading of this one actually dropped my rating. I remembered really enjoying it when I read it the first time. Ainsley and Skye are likable but not my favorites by this author. I didn't feel a whole lot of chemistry this read. The book got a chuckle out of me a couple of times. It did make me want to reread some of Galli's other books though. I also picked up the second in this series and will be reading it next.
I will give this one another go in a few months and see where it lands after yet another read. Odd how our love/like for books change with time, based on our recently read list.
I would purchase and read anything by this author. If you are a fan of Galli you will probably enjoy this one, if you haven't picked up one of her books yet perhaps start with her Virginia Clan series. Just my opinion though.
August 27, 2016
The tenth book I've read by Galli. Strange to think that it was only as far back as June 29, 2015 that I read my first book by Galli. Reading 10 books in 37 days isn't that strange. I mean, it is 10.14% of an entire year. But the reality is that there is a month gap between the first book I read by Galli, and the second. Or, more accurately, 22 days. So, in actual fact, I read 9 books in 16 days. So, roughly 1.8 days per book instead of 3.7 (though, in reality, more like a day a book; I mean, I did read a lot of other things during that month). Maths fun, eh?
Right. This book here. Right off the start I'll note that I didn't like Skye when I first meet her. Rather rapidly my opinion began to change, and by the end, I rather liked her. Both her and Ainsley Baird. Never really grew to like either Dallas or Colin, the two people who brought Skye and Ainsley back together for a wedding. But then, they were mostly off to the side. Literally on a different continent for much of the book.
Dallas and Colin are co-anchors on a cable news show. They have/had great on-screen chemistry, but fought bitterly off camera. Until they stopped doing that, and suddenly got all lovey dovey. And rather rapidly got engaged. Then decided to marry in something like three weeks after getting engaged. Because, otherwise, they'd have to wait a year - apparently a spot opened up at the church they wanted. All of this is important, because Dallas asked Skye to be her maid of honor, or as it is put in the book, her MOH. While Colin asked Ainsley to be his best . . .something or other. It fluctuated what she was called. Some even said best man, other's said best woman, and some just said best person.
Then, almost immediately, Dallas and Colin are suddenly in some other country in a situation wherein they couldn't be in close contact with anyone in the states. Which is important, because they still plan on getting married within 3 weeks. So, it's up to Skye and Ainsley to plan and make decisions about the wedding. Which they do. Reluctantly.
Reluctantly for Skye because everything about weddings - the wedding itself, churches, etc., are among her least favorite things. Plus, Skye and Ainsley had lived together, no not that way, about 15 years before. While at college - sharing a room with two other people. So four total. Skye and Ainsley fought like cats and dogs. At least the kind of cats and dogs that fought. As opposed to the kind that make that stereotype cliche look stupid.
Right. So. Skye, I forget her exact title, but she is head of news content at the cable channel she works at, or something like that. Ainsley is the greatest expert on Scotland and lives and works as a professor in Scotland.
For the sake of their friends (Skye - Dallas (BFF)), and relatives (Colin - Ainsley (cousins)), they put their differences aside to get the wedding planned and carry it off.
I'm already 50%+ into the next book, so I'm not 100% certain of this, but I'm fairly certain that the point of view, this time, focused almost solely on Skye. It might have been interesting to see the USA through the eyes of a Scottish woman, but it was not to be. Well, technically. I mean, Skye MacKinnon is, in fact, half Scottish, but, baring a trip to Scotland, might feel a connection to Scotland, but not at the level of someone born and raised in Scotland. She's half Italian, half Scottish, and all American (and it didn't help that her Scottish father refused to have anything to do with her)).
The reader does get a sense, though, of seeing America through foreigner's eyes, by watching Skye reacting and interacting with Ainsley. Though Ainsley herself isn't a fresh off the boat Scottish woman. She herself is half Scottish (and half American, though she might punch you if you try to stress that American part too much, and/or called her half-Scottish; in her mind she's fully Scottish). My earlier comment, about not being fresh off the boat, is more about how Ainsley had spent time in the USA previously, having gone to college there 15 years earlier.
Right. So. Most of the book involves planning a wedding. Watching two people circling each other, with both coming to the realization that they seem oddly to like each other, despite their previous bitter experience during college.
An interesting book. A neat book. A lovely little book. And the last one I have to read, at least at the moment. Well, there's one more in the Virginia Clan series, but I had skipped that one on purpose. It's supposedly more of a short story collection, as far as I can tell. So, even if I counted it as something more to read, it isn't a full book left to read. So, I'm all sad and stuff. Hmms. I just realized I had to actually buy all these books, as opposed to getting them through Kindle Unlimited or something like that. So, now I'm poor. And sad.
Right. This book here. Right off the start I'll note that I didn't like Skye when I first meet her. Rather rapidly my opinion began to change, and by the end, I rather liked her. Both her and Ainsley Baird. Never really grew to like either Dallas or Colin, the two people who brought Skye and Ainsley back together for a wedding. But then, they were mostly off to the side. Literally on a different continent for much of the book.
Dallas and Colin are co-anchors on a cable news show. They have/had great on-screen chemistry, but fought bitterly off camera. Until they stopped doing that, and suddenly got all lovey dovey. And rather rapidly got engaged. Then decided to marry in something like three weeks after getting engaged. Because, otherwise, they'd have to wait a year - apparently a spot opened up at the church they wanted. All of this is important, because Dallas asked Skye to be her maid of honor, or as it is put in the book, her MOH. While Colin asked Ainsley to be his best . . .something or other. It fluctuated what she was called. Some even said best man, other's said best woman, and some just said best person.
Then, almost immediately, Dallas and Colin are suddenly in some other country in a situation wherein they couldn't be in close contact with anyone in the states. Which is important, because they still plan on getting married within 3 weeks. So, it's up to Skye and Ainsley to plan and make decisions about the wedding. Which they do. Reluctantly.
Reluctantly for Skye because everything about weddings - the wedding itself, churches, etc., are among her least favorite things. Plus, Skye and Ainsley had lived together, no not that way, about 15 years before. While at college - sharing a room with two other people. So four total. Skye and Ainsley fought like cats and dogs. At least the kind of cats and dogs that fought. As opposed to the kind that make that stereotype cliche look stupid.
Right. So. Skye, I forget her exact title, but she is head of news content at the cable channel she works at, or something like that. Ainsley is the greatest expert on Scotland and lives and works as a professor in Scotland.
For the sake of their friends (Skye - Dallas (BFF)), and relatives (Colin - Ainsley (cousins)), they put their differences aside to get the wedding planned and carry it off.
I'm already 50%+ into the next book, so I'm not 100% certain of this, but I'm fairly certain that the point of view, this time, focused almost solely on Skye. It might have been interesting to see the USA through the eyes of a Scottish woman, but it was not to be. Well, technically. I mean, Skye MacKinnon is, in fact, half Scottish, but, baring a trip to Scotland, might feel a connection to Scotland, but not at the level of someone born and raised in Scotland. She's half Italian, half Scottish, and all American (and it didn't help that her Scottish father refused to have anything to do with her)).
The reader does get a sense, though, of seeing America through foreigner's eyes, by watching Skye reacting and interacting with Ainsley. Though Ainsley herself isn't a fresh off the boat Scottish woman. She herself is half Scottish (and half American, though she might punch you if you try to stress that American part too much, and/or called her half-Scottish; in her mind she's fully Scottish). My earlier comment, about not being fresh off the boat, is more about how Ainsley had spent time in the USA previously, having gone to college there 15 years earlier.
Right. So. Most of the book involves planning a wedding. Watching two people circling each other, with both coming to the realization that they seem oddly to like each other, despite their previous bitter experience during college.
An interesting book. A neat book. A lovely little book. And the last one I have to read, at least at the moment. Well, there's one more in the Virginia Clan series, but I had skipped that one on purpose. It's supposedly more of a short story collection, as far as I can tell. So, even if I counted it as something more to read, it isn't a full book left to read. So, I'm all sad and stuff. Hmms. I just realized I had to actually buy all these books, as opposed to getting them through Kindle Unlimited or something like that. So, now I'm poor. And sad.
January 11, 2019
Random: I walked into the lunchroom at work, wearing my glasses, and a co-worker stops dead in her tracks and says, "Do you wear glasses?" I stare at her and dead-pan, "What gave it away." She just continued to stare at me, unblinking.
Awkward.
Anyway, I then finished this book over lunch in my office. NOTEWORTHY QUOTE: "Something about the Scottish lilt made it sound like the words were cherished by the speaker before being spoken.....A Londoner could read the most romantic poem ever written and it wouldn't affect me more than an American doing the same. Give the poem to a Scot and I'd tremble like a Chihuahua." God I love Scottish accents, Scotland in general, and I fully agree with her assessment of the accent.. *swoooooon*
It was a good read, but had some skip-overs. There was way too much wedding planning detail that became tiresome. I did not much care for Colin or Dallas, and found it very unbelievable that Dallas would insist on other people to plan their entire to-the-tits dream wedding without any input from them. That would never happen to someone who plans her wedding since emerging from the womb.
I actually liked how much Ainsley and Skye got under each others' skin, the constant barbs, sarcasm and overall riling-up of one another. I liked that Ms. Galli strayed from the norm and didn't have a "past relationship" angle that the MC's revisit, but rather two personalities that hugely clashed in college. But the reason for their tumultuous past was glossed over. My interpretation is that Ainsley fell for Skye in college but never admitted it, never did anything about it, never communicated it, and used their clashes as a reason to dislike her. But she never explains herself later in the story.
Heat factor: Solid 4/5 for the one, way too short scene, that we readers had to wait for until 80% of the book was finished. Ms. Galli is great at the sex scenes, and this one was no exception, but I always enjoy it when authors weave sprinkles of intimacy throughout the story.
Awkward.
Anyway, I then finished this book over lunch in my office. NOTEWORTHY QUOTE: "Something about the Scottish lilt made it sound like the words were cherished by the speaker before being spoken.....A Londoner could read the most romantic poem ever written and it wouldn't affect me more than an American doing the same. Give the poem to a Scot and I'd tremble like a Chihuahua." God I love Scottish accents, Scotland in general, and I fully agree with her assessment of the accent.. *swoooooon*
It was a good read, but had some skip-overs. There was way too much wedding planning detail that became tiresome. I did not much care for Colin or Dallas, and found it very unbelievable that Dallas would insist on other people to plan their entire to-the-tits dream wedding without any input from them. That would never happen to someone who plans her wedding since emerging from the womb.
I actually liked how much Ainsley and Skye got under each others' skin, the constant barbs, sarcasm and overall riling-up of one another. I liked that Ms. Galli strayed from the norm and didn't have a "past relationship" angle that the MC's revisit, but rather two personalities that hugely clashed in college. But the reason for their tumultuous past was glossed over. My interpretation is that Ainsley fell for Skye in college but never admitted it, never did anything about it, never communicated it, and used their clashes as a reason to dislike her. But she never explains herself later in the story.
Heat factor: Solid 4/5 for the one, way too short scene, that we readers had to wait for until 80% of the book was finished. Ms. Galli is great at the sex scenes, and this one was no exception, but I always enjoy it when authors weave sprinkles of intimacy throughout the story.
April 12, 2015
Great story with a slow build up to romance. I will now be watching Brave again! Love the Scottish references. I totally cracked up at the end of the book, reading about the author!! That was awesome. Enjoyable read with great characters.
April 12, 2015
Another wonderful and quirky book by Lynn Galli. I always enjoy reading books by this Author, she has a way of making you fall in love with her characters and cheering them on when it's needed and crying along with them when things seem lost. I definitely recommend this book.
June 7, 2025
Just lovely
I'm on my third read of this book and I just adore how LG builds the characters and develops this gentle yet totally captivating love story. Definitely one of my all time favourites that feels like a warm, comforting hug as I read it!
I'm on my third read of this book and I just adore how LG builds the characters and develops this gentle yet totally captivating love story. Definitely one of my all time favourites that feels like a warm, comforting hug as I read it!
October 23, 2016
Wow! Awesome book! I've read this story, this journey, with a permanent smile on my face. Undoubtedly this is one of the best Lynn Galli's novels.
January 26, 2016
Detailed score: 3.5 [but not quiiiite good enough for a round up]
This book is going to drive some of you nuts. It relies on the reader believing that first person lens, Skye, genuinely believes that our other main romantic protagonist (Ainsley) finds her irritating beyond belief (and vice versa for a good portion of the book) to prevent them being together -- despite ever-growing indications to the contrary. I found myself able to go with it for most of the time I was asked to but it's a pretty thin premise on which to base one of the main barriers to love between our two leads.
For the most part, I really enjoyed the interaction between our two leads. I liked their chemistry, even if they, themselves, were unaware of it. Our secondary characters had their own voices and served more purpose than just as convenient plot lines for the leads which is always nice.
I'm going to talk about the end here and hide it behind a spoiler tag just to protect those who don't like any spoilerage at all -- I promise I won't give too much away though.
This is a ... nice... book. It didn't rock my world but I'm happy I chose to spend a few hours escaping to this world.
This book is going to drive some of you nuts. It relies on the reader believing that first person lens, Skye, genuinely believes that our other main romantic protagonist (Ainsley) finds her irritating beyond belief (and vice versa for a good portion of the book) to prevent them being together -- despite ever-growing indications to the contrary. I found myself able to go with it for most of the time I was asked to but it's a pretty thin premise on which to base one of the main barriers to love between our two leads.
For the most part, I really enjoyed the interaction between our two leads. I liked their chemistry, even if they, themselves, were unaware of it. Our secondary characters had their own voices and served more purpose than just as convenient plot lines for the leads which is always nice.
I'm going to talk about the end here and hide it behind a spoiler tag just to protect those who don't like any spoilerage at all -- I promise I won't give too much away though.
This is a ... nice... book. It didn't rock my world but I'm happy I chose to spend a few hours escaping to this world.
January 20, 2019
*Reread*
It has been so long since i read this book. To be honest I reread it, so that I can start thr next book of this series “Speak Low” and since I really like this first book, so why not reread, aye. :) two birds with one stone 🤗
And again, I really like this book and I still enjoyed it. Though, I still dont have anything much to say, again.
20.01.19
*****
I like this kind of book. Enemy to lover. Quite enjoyable to see how both main characters interact with each other. I really like Ainsley and Skye. They are such sweet women, caring and idk.. i mean and many more. All in all i really enjoy this book.
It has been so long since i read this book. To be honest I reread it, so that I can start thr next book of this series “Speak Low” and since I really like this first book, so why not reread, aye. :) two birds with one stone 🤗
And again, I really like this book and I still enjoyed it. Though, I still dont have anything much to say, again.
20.01.19
*****
I like this kind of book. Enemy to lover. Quite enjoyable to see how both main characters interact with each other. I really like Ainsley and Skye. They are such sweet women, caring and idk.. i mean and many more. All in all i really enjoy this book.
June 9, 2015
Although the story has likeable characters and good writing, whole plot is seriously flawed with redundant supporting characters, excessive wedding planning, and too little exposure to main characters' relation development.
August 3, 2016
I had heart eyes the entire time I was reading this one. Loved it.
July 18, 2018
Lovely story with great characters.
And since I often complain about language details, I can admit that I was apprehensive about the Scottish character, but Galli dealt with it quite cleverly. The first time she spoke she added a phonetic comment about what she sounded like, integrated in the text, and that was that. Her dialog included enough turns of phrases to distinguish her from the American speakers. So, doesn't seem too hard to pull it off.
ETA 2018: The second time around I noticed many instances in which Galli tries to phonetically spell Ainsley's dialog. It didn't bother me too much, but overall wasn't as satisfying in this regard as my initial review suggests to me.
And since I often complain about language details, I can admit that I was apprehensive about the Scottish character, but Galli dealt with it quite cleverly. The first time she spoke she added a phonetic comment about what she sounded like, integrated in the text, and that was that. Her dialog included enough turns of phrases to distinguish her from the American speakers. So, doesn't seem too hard to pull it off.
ETA 2018: The second time around I noticed many instances in which Galli tries to phonetically spell Ainsley's dialog. It didn't bother me too much, but overall wasn't as satisfying in this regard as my initial review suggests to me.
December 23, 2018
I already had this book and I guess I had read it but the truth is that I did not remember more than little pieces of it. Last week I started rereading books by Lynn Galli and I'm quite happy with the result, among other things because I remembered couples that I loved and in the case of this book, the book itself.
Skye and Ainsley are witty, interesting, and lovable. The plot, like a good rom com should, had exaggerated or not credible events that served to create a credible and full of chemistry relationship between the main characters. You'll even forget about the obnoxious bride and groom.
It’s lengthy, funny, and entertaining.
Skye and Ainsley are witty, interesting, and lovable. The plot, like a good rom com should, had exaggerated or not credible events that served to create a credible and full of chemistry relationship between the main characters. You'll even forget about the obnoxious bride and groom.
It’s lengthy, funny, and entertaining.
December 16, 2021
It is one of those books which intially feel predictable and cliched but then grows on you half the way into it. I picked it as a light quick read for some instant gratification (after some slightly heavy reading). Skip read some portions. Definitely a slow burn (in my mind was yelling - just kiss already).
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