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How to Marry a Highlander #1
The Perfect Bargain
American lass seeks brawny Scot...
As if being newly single isn’t brutal enough, Sloane Chatfield's friends are getting obnoxious about setting her up. When Sloane insists she's waiting for a certain sexy fictional Highlander to come along, her friends surprise her with a trip to Scotland to find her a new boyfriend. She’d rather have a root canal. But if she can find a Highland hunk to “break her heart” before her friends arrive…
In a remote Highland village, Galen Buchanan is struggling to keep the family pub afloat. Everything is falling apart, he’s running out of money, and now there's an opinionated American lass parked at his best table, driving him mad. But then Sloane asks Galen to be her pretend Highland boyfriend...and offers him enough money to save the pub. It’s only for a few days, he figures. What's the worst that could happen?
As if being newly single isn’t brutal enough, Sloane Chatfield's friends are getting obnoxious about setting her up. When Sloane insists she's waiting for a certain sexy fictional Highlander to come along, her friends surprise her with a trip to Scotland to find her a new boyfriend. She’d rather have a root canal. But if she can find a Highland hunk to “break her heart” before her friends arrive…
In a remote Highland village, Galen Buchanan is struggling to keep the family pub afloat. Everything is falling apart, he’s running out of money, and now there's an opinionated American lass parked at his best table, driving him mad. But then Sloane asks Galen to be her pretend Highland boyfriend...and offers him enough money to save the pub. It’s only for a few days, he figures. What's the worst that could happen?
179 pages, ebook
First published June 30, 2015
About the author
Julia London
201 books3,227 followersJulia London is the New York Times and USA Today best selling author of more than two dozen romantic fiction novels. She is the author of the popular historical romance series, the Cabot Sisters, including The Trouble with Honor, The Devil Takes a Bride, and The Scoundrel and the Debutante. She is also the author of several contemporary romances, including Homecoming Ranch, Return to Homecoming Ranch, and The Perfect Homecoming.
Julia is the recipient of the RT Bookclub Award for Best Historical Romance and a six-time finalist for the prestigious RITA award for excellence in romantic fiction. To keep up with all the Julia London news, please visit http://www.julialondon.com. Follow her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/julialondon
Julia is the recipient of the RT Bookclub Award for Best Historical Romance and a six-time finalist for the prestigious RITA award for excellence in romantic fiction. To keep up with all the Julia London news, please visit http://www.julialondon.com. Follow her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/julialondon
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 203 reviews
June 6, 2015
4 STARS
I enjoyed this book!!The whole idea that Sloane was looking for her Jamie Frazer was so funny!!(Jamie is from Outlander...I'm sure that everybody knows him!!) smile emoticon This is a light,fast paced,sweet and funny story!
Sloane is our main heroine!She is sad because her boyfriend called off their wedding.But because her friends care for her a lot they want to find her a new boyfriend!But the truth is that Sloane, she wants to find a Highlander, someone like Jamie.So she decides to go to a village.There she will meet Galen, a hot pub owner.Unfortunately for her,her friend is coming and she said that she found a new boyfriend...What she will do now???She asked Galen to pretend to be her boyfriend until their friends leave...
But are they pretend only?Or they have feelings for each other??
Galen is simply amazing,I loved his accent which was adorable!!He is cocky sometimes but he is also funny,sweet and hot!!Sloane is a lovable character...at the beginning I had issues but when she meets Galen she changes!!And becomes better!!The chemistry between Sloane and Galen was so scorching!I loved their dialogues so much and I can say that in the most part of the book I was laughing!
I loved the writing!!This is my first book from Julia London and now I'm sure that I'll read again a book of her!This is a short book witch is perfect for Summer vacations!!Now I want to go in Scotland and find my Jamie!!!
I enjoyed this book!!The whole idea that Sloane was looking for her Jamie Frazer was so funny!!(Jamie is from Outlander...I'm sure that everybody knows him!!) smile emoticon This is a light,fast paced,sweet and funny story!
Sloane is our main heroine!She is sad because her boyfriend called off their wedding.But because her friends care for her a lot they want to find her a new boyfriend!But the truth is that Sloane, she wants to find a Highlander, someone like Jamie.So she decides to go to a village.There she will meet Galen, a hot pub owner.Unfortunately for her,her friend is coming and she said that she found a new boyfriend...What she will do now???She asked Galen to pretend to be her boyfriend until their friends leave...
But are they pretend only?Or they have feelings for each other??
Galen is simply amazing,I loved his accent which was adorable!!He is cocky sometimes but he is also funny,sweet and hot!!Sloane is a lovable character...at the beginning I had issues but when she meets Galen she changes!!And becomes better!!The chemistry between Sloane and Galen was so scorching!I loved their dialogues so much and I can say that in the most part of the book I was laughing!
I loved the writing!!This is my first book from Julia London and now I'm sure that I'll read again a book of her!This is a short book witch is perfect for Summer vacations!!Now I want to go in Scotland and find my Jamie!!!
June 11, 2015
1.5 - "There are quite a lot of preconceived misguided notions floating around. Stars.
I generally only give 1 Star to books I DNF, I managed to get through this one (barely) hence the 1.5 rating.
Where to start... I have so many issues with this book, and very little inclination to spend the time writing the essay it would take to put them all down in a constructive and respectful way. My time is precious, and on this occasion it has been fully spent in finishing the book.
"You're quite full of it, are you no'?"
The writing as you would expect of an author of Julia London/Jessa McAdams caliber is sound. The issues I have are with the cliche, predictable plot, unlikable somewhat sexist characters that themselves lack any depth or development. The way Scottish people are portrayed, even the way Americans are portrayed to a certain extent is pretty derogatory a lot of the time.
Add to that a very tenuous emotional link between our couple, outright desperation from Sloane in relation to getting Galen to admit he has feelings for her, and numerous references to paying for sex from Galen to Sloane at every available opportunity it was just all a little cheap and old-fashioned for what is meant to be a modern love story.
"This is nothing but a story you've created... No matter that you've begin to believe in it, it's still only a fantasy in the end.".
I have no doubt this book will do well, but on this occasion it ticked all the wrong boxes for me.
ARC generously provided by Entangled publishing, I am sorry I cannot provide a more positive review on this occasion.
I generally only give 1 Star to books I DNF, I managed to get through this one (barely) hence the 1.5 rating.
Where to start... I have so many issues with this book, and very little inclination to spend the time writing the essay it would take to put them all down in a constructive and respectful way. My time is precious, and on this occasion it has been fully spent in finishing the book.
"You're quite full of it, are you no'?"
The writing as you would expect of an author of Julia London/Jessa McAdams caliber is sound. The issues I have are with the cliche, predictable plot, unlikable somewhat sexist characters that themselves lack any depth or development. The way Scottish people are portrayed, even the way Americans are portrayed to a certain extent is pretty derogatory a lot of the time.
Add to that a very tenuous emotional link between our couple, outright desperation from Sloane in relation to getting Galen to admit he has feelings for her, and numerous references to paying for sex from Galen to Sloane at every available opportunity it was just all a little cheap and old-fashioned for what is meant to be a modern love story.
"This is nothing but a story you've created... No matter that you've begin to believe in it, it's still only a fantasy in the end.".
I have no doubt this book will do well, but on this occasion it ticked all the wrong boxes for me.
ARC generously provided by Entangled publishing, I am sorry I cannot provide a more positive review on this occasion.
June 12, 2015
You know how you would have loved to give a book a higher rating especially because you are burdened with the awareness of reading it in ARC format and yet cannot? I hate it when it happens.
Despite initial promises of a fresh treatment of a done-to-death theme this is yet another disappointment of a romance novel which lapses into the same old cliched representations of male romantic interests who treat women with a jocular disdain that is passed off as flirtation. Just because you are a sexually attrative man can you address a new female acquaintance/customer as 'lass', 'lassie', 'hen', 'love' etc but never use her parent-given name? Blergh!
Casual sexism and patronizing attitude of the male lead aside, the book had a bare minimum of angst and the leads did not let silly communication gaps delay their eventual union. They were cute sometimes. Besides who does not adore a Scottish brogue?
**with thanks to the wonderful Ellie McMahon from Entangled for her generous offer of an ARC**
Despite initial promises of a fresh treatment of a done-to-death theme this is yet another disappointment of a romance novel which lapses into the same old cliched representations of male romantic interests who treat women with a jocular disdain that is passed off as flirtation. Just because you are a sexually attrative man can you address a new female acquaintance/customer as 'lass', 'lassie', 'hen', 'love' etc but never use her parent-given name? Blergh!
Casual sexism and patronizing attitude of the male lead aside, the book had a bare minimum of angst and the leads did not let silly communication gaps delay their eventual union. They were cute sometimes. Besides who does not adore a Scottish brogue?
**with thanks to the wonderful Ellie McMahon from Entangled for her generous offer of an ARC**
June 10, 2015
This will be short as I can't summon up the energy to spend much more of my time on something I can't rate any higher than 1.5 stars. If I'm honest, it's a miracle I finished it.
He smelled of freshly mown grass and horses and something that made her think of sex.
Maybe this was why I struggled to have any feelings toward the hero. I prefer a fresh soap smell to manure. And the heroine, I didn't care for her much either. The Scottish were portrayed poorly, the Americans weren't much better and they lacked any redeeming qualities; they were unlikeable, shallow and in some respects it was sexist. Combine this with a predictable storyline, the telling without showing, Scottish-isms that made my eyes roll ("Edinburra" --all I could think was that it was written this way to highlight how Edinburgh should actually sound to someone outside the UK and "Donna" for "don't"/"didn't" --just no), Galen mentioning paying Sloane for sex at regular intervals, and the constant references to Jamie Fraser (29 to be precise), and you have a book that really didn't work for me at all.
I have it under good authority that Julia London/Jessa McAdams has written some pretty decent books in the past, so I certainly wouldn't let one poor experience put me off. And I am part Scottish, so this may have heightened some of my feelings as to the way they spoke and were portrayed. I'm sure many will enjoy this but unfortunately The Perfect Bargain was, for me, far from perfect.
Copy received courtesy of Entangled Publishing for an honest and unbiased opinion.
He smelled of freshly mown grass and horses and something that made her think of sex.
Maybe this was why I struggled to have any feelings toward the hero. I prefer a fresh soap smell to manure. And the heroine, I didn't care for her much either. The Scottish were portrayed poorly, the Americans weren't much better and they lacked any redeeming qualities; they were unlikeable, shallow and in some respects it was sexist. Combine this with a predictable storyline, the telling without showing, Scottish-isms that made my eyes roll ("Edinburra" --all I could think was that it was written this way to highlight how Edinburgh should actually sound to someone outside the UK and "Donna" for "don't"/"didn't" --just no), Galen mentioning paying Sloane for sex at regular intervals, and the constant references to Jamie Fraser (29 to be precise), and you have a book that really didn't work for me at all.
I have it under good authority that Julia London/Jessa McAdams has written some pretty decent books in the past, so I certainly wouldn't let one poor experience put me off. And I am part Scottish, so this may have heightened some of my feelings as to the way they spoke and were portrayed. I'm sure many will enjoy this but unfortunately The Perfect Bargain was, for me, far from perfect.
Copy received courtesy of Entangled Publishing for an honest and unbiased opinion.
June 26, 2015
It’s summer, pick your favorite reading spot, sun or shade, settle in for a light and quick romantic read that involves a hot, but gruff Scot, a kilt, an American woman on the run from a bad break up. Sloane finds a small and earthy village in the Scottish Highlands that just might be the best place to find her own version of a fictional Scot, Jamie Fraser. Hoping to find is far easier to deal with then having told your best friends you DID find your hot Scot. Is there a solution? Can Sloane convince the local bar owner to be her boyfriend for money? Is rough and handsome look is perfect, but his mouth often spews the vinegar of dislike. When the friends all converge for a girls’ weekend, their prim and proper ways are assaulted by the mud, the free-roaming animals and a changing Sloane. Looks like their little surprise is going to be a bust when Galen steps up to the plate to profess his (paid for) feelings for Sloane. Can the game of love get any worse, any more confusing?
The Perfect Bargain by Julia London is a light read, with a foregone conclusion, but the fun is getting to that conclusion! One city girl who has lived a life of privilege, one gruff Highlander who has secrets of his own and one really bad business deal will either cause on international incident or give the local patrons a few chuckles to add to the charm that is part of their Highland village. Sloane is likable enough, kind of snobbish, definitely out of her element, but she steps up to the plate and never backs down from a challenge. Galen, well, he is a too cocky at times, especially when considering the position he is in, which exactly what makes this a perfect summer read! This couple is so different in so many ways with their own preconceived notions that they almost fail to see what is right in front of them! And really, add the kilt and Highland magic is in the air!
Not too deep, not too dark, but full of some great humor and quirkiness, this is almost as fluffy as clouds on a summer’s day!
I received an ARC edition of The Perfect Bargain from Entangled Publishing, LLC in exchange for my honest review.
Series: How to Marry a Highlander, #1
Publication Date: June 30, 2015
Publisher: Entangled: Lovestruck
ISBN: 9781633752610
Genre: Romance
Print Length: 179 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews and More Check out: http://tometender.blogspot.com
The Perfect Bargain by Julia London is a light read, with a foregone conclusion, but the fun is getting to that conclusion! One city girl who has lived a life of privilege, one gruff Highlander who has secrets of his own and one really bad business deal will either cause on international incident or give the local patrons a few chuckles to add to the charm that is part of their Highland village. Sloane is likable enough, kind of snobbish, definitely out of her element, but she steps up to the plate and never backs down from a challenge. Galen, well, he is a too cocky at times, especially when considering the position he is in, which exactly what makes this a perfect summer read! This couple is so different in so many ways with their own preconceived notions that they almost fail to see what is right in front of them! And really, add the kilt and Highland magic is in the air!
Not too deep, not too dark, but full of some great humor and quirkiness, this is almost as fluffy as clouds on a summer’s day!
I received an ARC edition of The Perfect Bargain from Entangled Publishing, LLC in exchange for my honest review.
Series: How to Marry a Highlander, #1
Publication Date: June 30, 2015
Publisher: Entangled: Lovestruck
ISBN: 9781633752610
Genre: Romance
Print Length: 179 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews and More Check out: http://tometender.blogspot.com
June 3, 2015
5 'Aye' stars!
This was my first book from this author and I just loved it. It was also my first book about a Scotsman. And yes there were kilts involved <3 <3. Men in kilts....SEXY!!!
It took a little bit for me to adjust to the writing style just because of the Scottish talk. Once I adjusted to that it was smooth sailing. The storyline was perfect! And some of those scenes had me laughing out loud. 2 words.....BATHROOM SCENE! Epic!!
If you are looking for a sweet funny read this one is for you. I now want to go to Scotland and find my own man in a kilt! Highly recommended!!
I received this book from the Publisher via Netgalley.
This was my first book from this author and I just loved it. It was also my first book about a Scotsman. And yes there were kilts involved <3 <3. Men in kilts....SEXY!!!
It took a little bit for me to adjust to the writing style just because of the Scottish talk. Once I adjusted to that it was smooth sailing. The storyline was perfect! And some of those scenes had me laughing out loud. 2 words.....BATHROOM SCENE! Epic!!
If you are looking for a sweet funny read this one is for you. I now want to go to Scotland and find my own man in a kilt! Highly recommended!!
I received this book from the Publisher via Netgalley.
June 3, 2015
Fun, sexy, and made me want to hop on a plane to Scotland to find my own Scot (much to my husband's dismay). London does a great job conveying the adorable accent, as well as a wonderful setting that I could almost picture it was so well written. Sloane's friends annoyed me, but as they were a small part of the book, it was easy to overlook. Especially because the chemistry between Sloane and Galen was so scorching! Their sarcastic quips at each other were hysterical, too. All in all, a ton of fun and some great fantasy fodder.
June 25, 2015
Quick review:
Cover: Okay
Rating: NC-17
Steaminess: Steamy
Thumbs Up: 3.5
Overall: A cute story with potential
Characters: Good
Plot: Getting over heartbreak with love
Page Turner: Sure
Series Cont.? N/A
Recommend: Maybe
Book Boyfriend: Galen
SUMMARY (50 words or less)
I picked up this book because it was pitched to me girl goes to Scotland and meets sexy Scot (or Highlander). I’m all about Scotland so I was all in. But when I started to read, the problems begin.
For a full review and yummy pic, see my blog post at:
http://www.mybookboyfriend.net/2015/0...
Cover: Okay
Rating: NC-17
Steaminess: Steamy
Thumbs Up: 3.5
Overall: A cute story with potential
Characters: Good
Plot: Getting over heartbreak with love
Page Turner: Sure
Series Cont.? N/A
Recommend: Maybe
Book Boyfriend: Galen
SUMMARY (50 words or less)
I picked up this book because it was pitched to me girl goes to Scotland and meets sexy Scot (or Highlander). I’m all about Scotland so I was all in. But when I started to read, the problems begin.
For a full review and yummy pic, see my blog post at:
http://www.mybookboyfriend.net/2015/0...
June 27, 2015
Cute and endearing.
April 13, 2021
After a painful breakup just months before what was to be her wedding, Sloane Chatfield is trying to adjust to single life. Her friends mean well but their efforts to set her up with someone new have become too much. Sloane tells them she’s waiting for the perfect Highlander, like the heroes in her favorite books. This turns into a full-blown trip to Scotland. Sloane arrives before her friends, intent on finding the perfect Highlander and staging a breakup before her friends arrive so she can finally get them off her back.
Galen Buchanan is struggling to save his grandfather’s old pub in his remote Highland village. Things aren’t going well, he’s nearly decimated his savings, and now there’s a loud-mouthed American using his best table each day, hogging the Wi-Fi, and unnerving the regulars. But when she asks Galen to pretend to be her boyfriend and offers enough money to save the pub, he reluctantly acquiesces thinking he can surely make it work for a week or so.
This was a cute setup and I could definitely see it as a romcom movie. As a book though I think we got too much of Sloane’s inner thoughts for her to be likable. Her poor little rich girl persona was not endearing to me, especially when she tried to belittle and judge Galen when he was the only one with an actual understanding of business agreements and she had almost no practical knowledge. Galen was charming in his own quirky, strong, silent way, but I don’t think we got to know him as much and I would’ve liked more background on him and why he was gun shy about relationships. Sloane’s snobby friends were insufferable, overbearing busybodies and I wanted her to stand up to them more. The final chapter or so of this book was adorable and had me rooting for the couple, but the rest was a bit of a slog. Overall, this was a cute premise but I doubt I’ll reread.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Galen Buchanan is struggling to save his grandfather’s old pub in his remote Highland village. Things aren’t going well, he’s nearly decimated his savings, and now there’s a loud-mouthed American using his best table each day, hogging the Wi-Fi, and unnerving the regulars. But when she asks Galen to pretend to be her boyfriend and offers enough money to save the pub, he reluctantly acquiesces thinking he can surely make it work for a week or so.
This was a cute setup and I could definitely see it as a romcom movie. As a book though I think we got too much of Sloane’s inner thoughts for her to be likable. Her poor little rich girl persona was not endearing to me, especially when she tried to belittle and judge Galen when he was the only one with an actual understanding of business agreements and she had almost no practical knowledge. Galen was charming in his own quirky, strong, silent way, but I don’t think we got to know him as much and I would’ve liked more background on him and why he was gun shy about relationships. Sloane’s snobby friends were insufferable, overbearing busybodies and I wanted her to stand up to them more. The final chapter or so of this book was adorable and had me rooting for the couple, but the rest was a bit of a slog. Overall, this was a cute premise but I doubt I’ll reread.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 11, 2019
Sloane had her heart broken by her fiance just weeks before the wedding and has been a little sad since, and her best friends seeing the way she was had put it in their heads that she need to go out more. She don't want that so when she bumps into Galen on her trip in Scotland she asks him if he would pretend to be her lovestruck boyfriend in front of her friends. At first he thinks she is crazy but after some thinking agrees to the bargain with her.
This was a cute book, in the beginning i had some trouble liking the characters but later as the story was going on they grew on me.
I received an ARC of this book from Entangled Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.
This was a cute book, in the beginning i had some trouble liking the characters but later as the story was going on they grew on me.
I received an ARC of this book from Entangled Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.
July 3, 2015
1 star. Or 1-1/2, I guess.
I was excited to check this book out, but I just could not connect with these characters--at all. Sloane was a whiny little brat and Galen, though hot and Scottish, just couldn't make up for that. She was annoying; they were annoying together; the drama was annoying.
Ugh. I wish I had flounced this book because it. did. not. get. better. Save yourself some time and skip this one.
--
For more reviews and bookish talk, visit our blog at Pretty Sassy Cool. This review is also posted on:
I was excited to check this book out, but I just could not connect with these characters--at all. Sloane was a whiny little brat and Galen, though hot and Scottish, just couldn't make up for that. She was annoying; they were annoying together; the drama was annoying.
Ugh. I wish I had flounced this book because it. did. not. get. better. Save yourself some time and skip this one.
--
For more reviews and bookish talk, visit our blog at Pretty Sassy Cool. This review is also posted on:
May 31, 2015
With its beautiful and charming Scotland setting, hot highlander hero and likeable heroine, The Perfect Bargain took me on a hilarious adventure I’d happily go on again and again.
July 22, 2015
This was my first novel by this author and while I enjoyed her style of writing I couldn't fully connect with the story. As you know this was one of my favorite genres to read about, fake relationships turn to real all consuming love. While I loved certain aspects of this novel some of it just fell short for me.
I loved the whole Jamie Frasier thing, as I'm currently watching this series, and Jamie is defiantly a Highland dream come true. So was Galen for that matter. He was dreamy and sexy, arrogant and down right delectable. What troubled me with him however, was how hard the fought to not fall in love with Sloane, even when the man was already head over heels for the little mouthy American.
I loved everything Sloane stood for and I could defiantly relat to her low self esteem that can only come from a broken relationship by a man who truly didn't deserve her. However, while I loved everything she stood for there were moments where I felt everything between Galen and her moved at hyper speed. One minute they are arguing over his fixer upper of a pub, and the next she can't seem to let him go. Now don't get me wrong, I'd have a hard time letting go of my real life Jamie Frasier too, it just felt... off at moments.
I loved her friends and how strong of a bond they all seem to have with each other. They were her support and her rock. However, I didn't understand how they couldn't see that Sloane just needed a moment to get herself together first before barreling into a new relationship. She needs wine (lots of wine) crap TV, a pint or 40 of delicious Ben and Jerry's ice cream before she could ever think about dating again. But that's just my two cents.
I enjoyed the ending to the book, and loved that there was an epilogue of the happy couple down the road. I hope we see more of the sexy Highlander Galen, hopefully in more kilts *fingers crossed* and the lovely Sloane in future books from this series. I'll most defiantly continue with the series because come on who doesn't love a sexy man with a thick Scottish accent, abs of perfection with the body of a God? I sure as hell do! I recommend this book to anyone who's holding out hope that there is a Jamie Frasier just waiting in the Highland mist for them.
** ARC was provided by author in exchange for an honest review **
I loved the whole Jamie Frasier thing, as I'm currently watching this series, and Jamie is defiantly a Highland dream come true. So was Galen for that matter. He was dreamy and sexy, arrogant and down right delectable. What troubled me with him however, was how hard the fought to not fall in love with Sloane, even when the man was already head over heels for the little mouthy American.
I loved everything Sloane stood for and I could defiantly relat to her low self esteem that can only come from a broken relationship by a man who truly didn't deserve her. However, while I loved everything she stood for there were moments where I felt everything between Galen and her moved at hyper speed. One minute they are arguing over his fixer upper of a pub, and the next she can't seem to let him go. Now don't get me wrong, I'd have a hard time letting go of my real life Jamie Frasier too, it just felt... off at moments.
I loved her friends and how strong of a bond they all seem to have with each other. They were her support and her rock. However, I didn't understand how they couldn't see that Sloane just needed a moment to get herself together first before barreling into a new relationship. She needs wine (lots of wine) crap TV, a pint or 40 of delicious Ben and Jerry's ice cream before she could ever think about dating again. But that's just my two cents.
I enjoyed the ending to the book, and loved that there was an epilogue of the happy couple down the road. I hope we see more of the sexy Highlander Galen, hopefully in more kilts *fingers crossed* and the lovely Sloane in future books from this series. I'll most defiantly continue with the series because come on who doesn't love a sexy man with a thick Scottish accent, abs of perfection with the body of a God? I sure as hell do! I recommend this book to anyone who's holding out hope that there is a Jamie Frasier just waiting in the Highland mist for them.
** ARC was provided by author in exchange for an honest review **
July 3, 2015
3.5 Stars
When I read the blurb for The Perfect Bargain by Julia London I knew I needed to read this. First off I’m a big fan of the Outlander show and Jamie Fraser, so when I found out that this book was about a girl going to Scotland to find her Jamie Fraser I was so in!
After being dumped by her fiancé and set up on awful date after awful date by her friends, Sloane Chatfield’s is off to find her very own sexy Jamie Fraser. Unfortunately, what she finds in a small Highland village is Galen Buchanan a pub owner that irritates more than anything. Desperate to get her friends to stop setting her up, Sloane comes up with a plan to pay Galen to be her fake boyfriend and her Jamie Fraser. The lines between fake and real will start to blur for Sloane and Galen.
I enjoyed The Perfect Bargain. It was a fun, fast read with some steam and humor. Plus, what’s not to like about men in Kilts!
An ARC was kindly provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
When I read the blurb for The Perfect Bargain by Julia London I knew I needed to read this. First off I’m a big fan of the Outlander show and Jamie Fraser, so when I found out that this book was about a girl going to Scotland to find her Jamie Fraser I was so in!
After being dumped by her fiancé and set up on awful date after awful date by her friends, Sloane Chatfield’s is off to find her very own sexy Jamie Fraser. Unfortunately, what she finds in a small Highland village is Galen Buchanan a pub owner that irritates more than anything. Desperate to get her friends to stop setting her up, Sloane comes up with a plan to pay Galen to be her fake boyfriend and her Jamie Fraser. The lines between fake and real will start to blur for Sloane and Galen.
I enjoyed The Perfect Bargain. It was a fun, fast read with some steam and humor. Plus, what’s not to like about men in Kilts!
An ARC was kindly provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 14, 2015
Great read..
I looked down at the percentage I’d read and was surprised to find I had only read 13% and was also surprised at how many times I had laughed out loud at how naïve and funny Sloane was and what an absolute tease Galen was. They were truly a perfect match. I think the 1 and 2 star reviews got Galen all wrong. I really enjoyed every bit of this story. From Sloane’s friends, Dylan, Tori and Paige, to the whole town of Gairloch.
There wasn’t any sexual tension in this but the was a couple of good sex scenes.
Because it makes me crazy that every single romance has one thing in common, from now on, I’m going to mention the heroine biting her lip. Worrying her lip. Chewing at her lip or nibbling at her lip, or doing whatever. Sloane chewed at her bottom lip 1 time. Yay!
I looked down at the percentage I’d read and was surprised to find I had only read 13% and was also surprised at how many times I had laughed out loud at how naïve and funny Sloane was and what an absolute tease Galen was. They were truly a perfect match. I think the 1 and 2 star reviews got Galen all wrong. I really enjoyed every bit of this story. From Sloane’s friends, Dylan, Tori and Paige, to the whole town of Gairloch.
There wasn’t any sexual tension in this but the was a couple of good sex scenes.
Because it makes me crazy that every single romance has one thing in common, from now on, I’m going to mention the heroine biting her lip. Worrying her lip. Chewing at her lip or nibbling at her lip, or doing whatever. Sloane chewed at her bottom lip 1 time. Yay!
June 29, 2015
This was a lot of fun. Loved the idea of them looking for a Jamie Fraser and pretty much the entire plot.
Sloane is an interesting character. I liked that she's trying to work on herself and that even though she's nursing a broken heart, she's still open to new experiences. Galen was fun too. I loved their arguing and how the slight communication barrier led to some hilarious moments. Her friends were sort of stupid. I didn't care for how they intervened, but I guess there needed to be some conflict.
All in all, it was a quick, cute read with an entertaining plot and fantastic ending.
**Huge thanks to Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review**
Sloane is an interesting character. I liked that she's trying to work on herself and that even though she's nursing a broken heart, she's still open to new experiences. Galen was fun too. I loved their arguing and how the slight communication barrier led to some hilarious moments. Her friends were sort of stupid. I didn't care for how they intervened, but I guess there needed to be some conflict.
All in all, it was a quick, cute read with an entertaining plot and fantastic ending.
**Huge thanks to Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review**
June 26, 2015
This was such a sweet book. There were no emotional roller coasters or suspense really but it was the cutest love story. I loved the set up and her friends are a blast. This is the perfect book for a light summer read. From the very beginning, I was hooked. I loved seeing Sloane emerge as a new woman by the end of the book. I love seeing a character or person grow into better women and really making a difference. Give this book a try. Good read!
August 5, 2015
It was an easy and very enjoable read.
Sure, there are some parts that had flaws or didn't make sense. But did I have a good time, yes!
Was it funny and a light read, yes!
Above all that, it includes an Scotish hero and a sweet highland village :))
Maybe with a better story development and writing style, it would be 5 stars for me.
anyway, I really had a very good time, that's the most important part for me. I'll definetly read next book in the series.
Sure, there are some parts that had flaws or didn't make sense. But did I have a good time, yes!
Was it funny and a light read, yes!
Above all that, it includes an Scotish hero and a sweet highland village :))
Maybe with a better story development and writing style, it would be 5 stars for me.
anyway, I really had a very good time, that's the most important part for me. I'll definetly read next book in the series.
October 26, 2017
2 jours après la lecture, je suis presque incapable de commenter ce livre, j'ai du mal à m'en souvenir, c'est dire !
Je n'aime pas les héroïnes qui se font déborder par leurs copines. Mettre des limites n'est pas compliqué. Lui est plutôt sympatique, mais ça ne suffit pas.
Je n'aime pas les héroïnes qui se font déborder par leurs copines. Mettre des limites n'est pas compliqué. Lui est plutôt sympatique, mais ça ne suffit pas.
June 14, 2015
The Perfect Bargain by Julia London (writing as Jessa McAdams) is a 2015 Entangled Publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Let's face it, Outlander is the mother of all historical romances and you have to admit you have had at least a few fantasies about Jamie Fraser. So, when Sloane's fiance breaks things off, her friends aggressively seek out someone to heal her broken heart. But, Sloane isn't interested in any of their picks, and wishes for her very own “man in a kilt”- one just like Jamie Fraser. (well, who doesn't right?)
So, Sloane arrives in Scotland ahead of her friends and begins frequenting a run down pub because it's the only place she can find a Wi-Fi connection. Here, she meets the oh so charming ( NOT!) Galen, the pub's owner and bartender.
Despite his rather gruff manner and apparent disdain for the uptight American using the pub for his free Wi-Fi, Sloane approaches Galen with a proposal.... pretend to be her boyfriend when her friends arrive and then before she heads back home they can have a dramatic break up. Hopefully, this will get her well meaning friends off her back for a while. She's willing to pay a handsome price, something Galen is hard pressed to refuse. Will he take her up on the offer?
Well, to be completely honest, I was just a little disappointed in this one. I have read much better material from this author and this set up has been done thousands, if not millions of times before. I had some issues with Galen because he was just too barbaric, like he was indeed in historical times and not present day. If your business is suffering, perhaps a little kindness to your new customer would help, but he has an obvious disdain for Americans and frankly this rankled. I know it was portrayed humorously and this is a light contemporary read and should not be taken to heart but it kind of hit a sore spot with me.
The other issue I have with the story is one I am seeing crop up in other books as well, which is this: Where is the romance? I got that Sloane needed to lighted up, to let her hair down, so to speak, and learn to enjoy the simpler things in life, and so her character needed to take a risk or make the first move, lower her inhibitions, but... does she have to do ALL the work? Does she have to sit through this guy's verbal abuse through ninety percent of the book, have him repeatedly reject her for anything beyond sex, before he grudgingly, with hardly any emotion or inflection, tack on a token “I love you'? Where's the guy who does more than have hot monkey sex? Where are the emotions and feelings? I know conflict is an important part of romance, but it carries on far too long sometimes. Jamie Fraser? I don't think so.
Sloane's character did have some growth, as she learned to enjoy a more leisurely way of life far removed from the one she left behind. She let go of her inhibitions, and met the challenges Galen threw her way with gusto. But, she really did all that all on her own, because Galen fought her tooth and nail for the most part, so really she didn't need him to achieve that goal. He merely provided her with a few fences to build or mend. Any guy could have provided stud service and maybe one of them would have been a wee bit nicer.
As for the secondary characters, I was reminded of that saying, “With friends like that, who needs enemies?”. Sloane's friends were just too much, and one of them pulled a stunt I would have had a hard time forgiving them for. Sure, they were well meaning, but quite annoying, and way too pushy.
OK, so all this sounds kind of harsh, but it wasn't a total loss. I did like the setting, and there were a few funny moments and the descriptions of the land did have me dreaming of the Scottish Highlands, which made the book worth finishing.
Overall this one gets a 2
Let's face it, Outlander is the mother of all historical romances and you have to admit you have had at least a few fantasies about Jamie Fraser. So, when Sloane's fiance breaks things off, her friends aggressively seek out someone to heal her broken heart. But, Sloane isn't interested in any of their picks, and wishes for her very own “man in a kilt”- one just like Jamie Fraser. (well, who doesn't right?)
So, Sloane arrives in Scotland ahead of her friends and begins frequenting a run down pub because it's the only place she can find a Wi-Fi connection. Here, she meets the oh so charming ( NOT!) Galen, the pub's owner and bartender.
Despite his rather gruff manner and apparent disdain for the uptight American using the pub for his free Wi-Fi, Sloane approaches Galen with a proposal.... pretend to be her boyfriend when her friends arrive and then before she heads back home they can have a dramatic break up. Hopefully, this will get her well meaning friends off her back for a while. She's willing to pay a handsome price, something Galen is hard pressed to refuse. Will he take her up on the offer?
Well, to be completely honest, I was just a little disappointed in this one. I have read much better material from this author and this set up has been done thousands, if not millions of times before. I had some issues with Galen because he was just too barbaric, like he was indeed in historical times and not present day. If your business is suffering, perhaps a little kindness to your new customer would help, but he has an obvious disdain for Americans and frankly this rankled. I know it was portrayed humorously and this is a light contemporary read and should not be taken to heart but it kind of hit a sore spot with me.
The other issue I have with the story is one I am seeing crop up in other books as well, which is this: Where is the romance? I got that Sloane needed to lighted up, to let her hair down, so to speak, and learn to enjoy the simpler things in life, and so her character needed to take a risk or make the first move, lower her inhibitions, but... does she have to do ALL the work? Does she have to sit through this guy's verbal abuse through ninety percent of the book, have him repeatedly reject her for anything beyond sex, before he grudgingly, with hardly any emotion or inflection, tack on a token “I love you'? Where's the guy who does more than have hot monkey sex? Where are the emotions and feelings? I know conflict is an important part of romance, but it carries on far too long sometimes. Jamie Fraser? I don't think so.
Sloane's character did have some growth, as she learned to enjoy a more leisurely way of life far removed from the one she left behind. She let go of her inhibitions, and met the challenges Galen threw her way with gusto. But, she really did all that all on her own, because Galen fought her tooth and nail for the most part, so really she didn't need him to achieve that goal. He merely provided her with a few fences to build or mend. Any guy could have provided stud service and maybe one of them would have been a wee bit nicer.
As for the secondary characters, I was reminded of that saying, “With friends like that, who needs enemies?”. Sloane's friends were just too much, and one of them pulled a stunt I would have had a hard time forgiving them for. Sure, they were well meaning, but quite annoying, and way too pushy.
OK, so all this sounds kind of harsh, but it wasn't a total loss. I did like the setting, and there were a few funny moments and the descriptions of the land did have me dreaming of the Scottish Highlands, which made the book worth finishing.
Overall this one gets a 2
June 19, 2015
Alright Lassies. Stop right there. You’re going to need a chilled glass of wine, or maybe something a little heavier like some Scotch whiskey to cool you down since The Perfect Bargain is going to heat you up.
Set in the beautiful yet, non-touristy landscape of Gairloch, Scotland, Sloane Chatfield has escaped her life in Chicago, her meddling friends, and the memories of the fiancé who broke her heart. And so far, her hiding has worked out just as planned.
What didn’t go as planned are her friends showing up earlier than scheduled and she now needs to convince a certain Scotsman to be her pretend boyfriend until she dumps him and is “heart-broken” once again.
What also doesn’t go as planned is Galen being the man that unleashes her inhibitions and the freedom she feels in the comfort of their sham of a relationship.
Galen was going about his life in the quaint little town he grew up in, just trying to keep his Granda’s pub up and running without going completely broke when a saucy vixen closed up in stuffy cardigans and pearls shows up in said pub. She is an anomaly in this town, especially being there for two weeks already, yelling at the sheep, cows, and goats that always seem to block the path to the door of the pub, and telling him how to run his business. Bloody Hell, the last thing he needs is putting in any time and effort pretending to be her boyfriend, but the money she offers is something he can’t logically say ‘no’ to if he wants to keep the pub afloat, much less his livelihood.
All carefully laid plans will be upended. It’s just the way of the universe and there is no exception for Sloane and Galen. Thank God their plans didn’t go as intended, otherwise, I wouldn’t have laughed as hard as I did. Sloane encounters the most ridiculous scenarios that you can’t help but feel sorry for her and shake your head while simultaneously clapping at her tenacity. Through it all, Galen starts to see the woman under the cardigans and stiff socialite life she lives back in Chicago. Sloane begins to see the woman that Galen is seeing and starts to let her hair down, enjoying the feel of not having to impress anyone.
Julia London weaves authenticity through her words and breathes life into a fairy tale that is closer to reality than what we read as little girls, giving us hope and laughter in a love story that warms our hearts.
I have never seen Outlander and (don’t hate me) have never heard of Jamie Fraser until The Perfect Bargain, but you can bet that now I am dead set on figuring out what it is all about, however, I’m not sure Jamie Fraser will be good enough for me now. I think Galen Buchanan will be replacing Jamie Fraser.
Set in the beautiful yet, non-touristy landscape of Gairloch, Scotland, Sloane Chatfield has escaped her life in Chicago, her meddling friends, and the memories of the fiancé who broke her heart. And so far, her hiding has worked out just as planned.
What didn’t go as planned are her friends showing up earlier than scheduled and she now needs to convince a certain Scotsman to be her pretend boyfriend until she dumps him and is “heart-broken” once again.
What also doesn’t go as planned is Galen being the man that unleashes her inhibitions and the freedom she feels in the comfort of their sham of a relationship.
Galen was going about his life in the quaint little town he grew up in, just trying to keep his Granda’s pub up and running without going completely broke when a saucy vixen closed up in stuffy cardigans and pearls shows up in said pub. She is an anomaly in this town, especially being there for two weeks already, yelling at the sheep, cows, and goats that always seem to block the path to the door of the pub, and telling him how to run his business. Bloody Hell, the last thing he needs is putting in any time and effort pretending to be her boyfriend, but the money she offers is something he can’t logically say ‘no’ to if he wants to keep the pub afloat, much less his livelihood.
All carefully laid plans will be upended. It’s just the way of the universe and there is no exception for Sloane and Galen. Thank God their plans didn’t go as intended, otherwise, I wouldn’t have laughed as hard as I did. Sloane encounters the most ridiculous scenarios that you can’t help but feel sorry for her and shake your head while simultaneously clapping at her tenacity. Through it all, Galen starts to see the woman under the cardigans and stiff socialite life she lives back in Chicago. Sloane begins to see the woman that Galen is seeing and starts to let her hair down, enjoying the feel of not having to impress anyone.
Julia London weaves authenticity through her words and breathes life into a fairy tale that is closer to reality than what we read as little girls, giving us hope and laughter in a love story that warms our hearts.
I have never seen Outlander and (don’t hate me) have never heard of Jamie Fraser until The Perfect Bargain, but you can bet that now I am dead set on figuring out what it is all about, however, I’m not sure Jamie Fraser will be good enough for me now. I think Galen Buchanan will be replacing Jamie Fraser.
June 25, 2015
ARC REVIEW
Okay so I don’t quite know where to begin; first off Jessa McAdams is a pen name for Julia London, it’s a New Adult genre, and it was just okay. My main issue was that I just didn’t like the characters. I felt disconnected and I couldn’t relate to them at all, I think that’s one reason I usually tend to stay away from New Adult is that I am past that phase in life and didn’t enjoy it when I was. I normally like Julia London and this one was a quick read I like the idea of the story but everything seemed very cliché. Sloane is a stereotypical American overachieving rich brat and Galen (Love his name I almost named one of my kids that) is kind of mean at first and a bit of a hypocrite. Sloane’s friends are worse than she is. One of the redeeming qualities of the book is that there are some nice love scenes and the romance between the two is aggravating and humorous.
Sloane Chatfield’s heart was broken she thought her life couldn’t get any better she has a great job working on the board for her families charitable foundation and a fiancé that is until the guys breaks up with her. Her “friends” trying to help keep setting her up with horrible matches and one girl’s night out the girls all says the perfect male would be “Jaime Frasier”. So Sloane takes a trip to find herself a Jaime Frasier and to have a fake romance and come back just so her friends will leave her alone. Well that plan goes to the crapper when her friends decide to join her. Her only hope now it to find someone to play her fake boyfriend.
Galen Buchanan left his job as a solicitor to run his family’s money pit of a pub. When first approached by the Wi-Fi hogging American about being paid to be her boyfriend his fir reaction was akin to “ah hell no” but the money was too good to pass up. Galen’s plan to keep his distance didn’t match up with Sloane’s plan to get to know each other at least a little bit, they “dating” after all. Neither of them expected to drop their guards around each other and fall in love. Opposites attract and Galen is blinded by how different they are to realize his true feelings for Sloane. When Sloane’s ex-fiancé shows up begging for her back Galen gives her the perfect out but Sloane isn’t letting go that easily.
Overall the situation it kind of reminded me of the movie The Proposal with Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds, I’m surprised it didn’t end the same. I’m torn about making an actual judgment on the book because I’m not that crazy over New Adult anyways (unless it’s PNR/Urban Fantasy) but to my tastes, eh.
Okay so I don’t quite know where to begin; first off Jessa McAdams is a pen name for Julia London, it’s a New Adult genre, and it was just okay. My main issue was that I just didn’t like the characters. I felt disconnected and I couldn’t relate to them at all, I think that’s one reason I usually tend to stay away from New Adult is that I am past that phase in life and didn’t enjoy it when I was. I normally like Julia London and this one was a quick read I like the idea of the story but everything seemed very cliché. Sloane is a stereotypical American overachieving rich brat and Galen (Love his name I almost named one of my kids that) is kind of mean at first and a bit of a hypocrite. Sloane’s friends are worse than she is. One of the redeeming qualities of the book is that there are some nice love scenes and the romance between the two is aggravating and humorous.
Sloane Chatfield’s heart was broken she thought her life couldn’t get any better she has a great job working on the board for her families charitable foundation and a fiancé that is until the guys breaks up with her. Her “friends” trying to help keep setting her up with horrible matches and one girl’s night out the girls all says the perfect male would be “Jaime Frasier”. So Sloane takes a trip to find herself a Jaime Frasier and to have a fake romance and come back just so her friends will leave her alone. Well that plan goes to the crapper when her friends decide to join her. Her only hope now it to find someone to play her fake boyfriend.
Galen Buchanan left his job as a solicitor to run his family’s money pit of a pub. When first approached by the Wi-Fi hogging American about being paid to be her boyfriend his fir reaction was akin to “ah hell no” but the money was too good to pass up. Galen’s plan to keep his distance didn’t match up with Sloane’s plan to get to know each other at least a little bit, they “dating” after all. Neither of them expected to drop their guards around each other and fall in love. Opposites attract and Galen is blinded by how different they are to realize his true feelings for Sloane. When Sloane’s ex-fiancé shows up begging for her back Galen gives her the perfect out but Sloane isn’t letting go that easily.
Overall the situation it kind of reminded me of the movie The Proposal with Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds, I’m surprised it didn’t end the same. I’m torn about making an actual judgment on the book because I’m not that crazy over New Adult anyways (unless it’s PNR/Urban Fantasy) but to my tastes, eh.
June 17, 2015
Happy Release Day!!!
Famous last words: What's the worst that could happen?
This was a fun romp through the Highlands. Sloane thinks she has the perfect plan to get her friends off her back. They think she needs a bit of "sack romping" to get out of the funk she's been in since she was dumped by her fiance. Personally, I think she missed a bullet! The jerk totally destroyed her self-confidence and he really needed a good smack.
Sloane's perfect plan includes a pretend Highland boyfriend, that she will then dump. Too bad her friends decide to join her in Scotland before she can find the guy, get cozy, and then leave him. Her choices are slim, but Galen, the bartender at the pub she hangs out at (because of the great wi-fi), is pretty much gorgeous. She puts her proposal before him and since he needs the cash, he takes her up on it. Yep, what could go wrong.
Of course there are sparks flying off the two. Of course they both don't think this could really work...but...what if it could?
When her ex shows up (Galen should have shown him the bottom of a loch somewhere) and a public proposal is accepted, well, things just get more fun for these two.
I also thought a couple of Sloane's friends might need a tour of the bottom of that same loch. One was particularly snippy. Maybe she needs her own Highland Warrior.
There were quite a few laughter inducing moments and some sweet heat, too. A very nice way to pass an afternoon.
Thank you, Entangled - Lovestruck and Netgalley, for the opportunity to read this book.
Famous last words: What's the worst that could happen?
This was a fun romp through the Highlands. Sloane thinks she has the perfect plan to get her friends off her back. They think she needs a bit of "sack romping" to get out of the funk she's been in since she was dumped by her fiance. Personally, I think she missed a bullet! The jerk totally destroyed her self-confidence and he really needed a good smack.
Sloane's perfect plan includes a pretend Highland boyfriend, that she will then dump. Too bad her friends decide to join her in Scotland before she can find the guy, get cozy, and then leave him. Her choices are slim, but Galen, the bartender at the pub she hangs out at (because of the great wi-fi), is pretty much gorgeous. She puts her proposal before him and since he needs the cash, he takes her up on it. Yep, what could go wrong.
Of course there are sparks flying off the two. Of course they both don't think this could really work...but...what if it could?
When her ex shows up (Galen should have shown him the bottom of a loch somewhere) and a public proposal is accepted, well, things just get more fun for these two.
I also thought a couple of Sloane's friends might need a tour of the bottom of that same loch. One was particularly snippy. Maybe she needs her own Highland Warrior.
There were quite a few laughter inducing moments and some sweet heat, too. A very nice way to pass an afternoon.
Thank you, Entangled - Lovestruck and Netgalley, for the opportunity to read this book.
June 30, 2015
A high 3 stars...if that even makes sense?
The Perfect Bargain read as a fun, if slightly flawed romantic comedy film (and let's me honest, what romcoms nowadays aren't more than a little, OKAY A LOT, flawed?). There was fake dating, hilarious moments involving dogs, sheep and cows, a lovable fish out of water heroine and a Scottish hero who dons a kilt (eventually). And, like most romcoms, while the premise and outcome may not have been the most realistic, it still left me what a somewhat giddy feeling in the end. 'Somewhat' because I had some issues. But when do I not?
Sloane I loved right off the bat because she was a buttoned-up control freak who was in need of a good mussing. Galen was...kind of an asshole who just happened to be a really hot Scot. Yeah, that kind of sucked, the him being an asshole part, not being a Scot because Scots are awesome. But heroine and hero still had a lot of really nice moments, mainly involving side splitting bickering and various other zany antics that can happen whenever a city person lands themself in a middle of nowhere town, in spite of the hero being a stubborn, opinionated, domineering douche thing. He was no Jamie Fraser, who by the way had honorable mentions throughout, bless Julia London's obvious fangirl heart.
Problems with the hero aside, the Highlands setting, varied cast of characters and array of some of my favorite tropes all added up to me having a really great time. I was also glad to see that Julia London's writing was still effective in the contemporary setting because up until now I had only ever read her historicals. I'm also looking forward to reading Dylan's book next, as well as the remaining ladies of the quartet of Outlander obsessed girlfriends.
The Perfect Bargain read as a fun, if slightly flawed romantic comedy film (and let's me honest, what romcoms nowadays aren't more than a little, OKAY A LOT, flawed?). There was fake dating, hilarious moments involving dogs, sheep and cows, a lovable fish out of water heroine and a Scottish hero who dons a kilt (eventually). And, like most romcoms, while the premise and outcome may not have been the most realistic, it still left me what a somewhat giddy feeling in the end. 'Somewhat' because I had some issues. But when do I not?
Sloane I loved right off the bat because she was a buttoned-up control freak who was in need of a good mussing. Galen was...kind of an asshole who just happened to be a really hot Scot. Yeah, that kind of sucked, the him being an asshole part, not being a Scot because Scots are awesome. But heroine and hero still had a lot of really nice moments, mainly involving side splitting bickering and various other zany antics that can happen whenever a city person lands themself in a middle of nowhere town, in spite of the hero being a stubborn, opinionated, domineering douche thing. He was no Jamie Fraser, who by the way had honorable mentions throughout, bless Julia London's obvious fangirl heart.
Problems with the hero aside, the Highlands setting, varied cast of characters and array of some of my favorite tropes all added up to me having a really great time. I was also glad to see that Julia London's writing was still effective in the contemporary setting because up until now I had only ever read her historicals. I'm also looking forward to reading Dylan's book next, as well as the remaining ladies of the quartet of Outlander obsessed girlfriends.
July 21, 2015
4 STARS - I REALLY LIKED IT
This was a cute read. It's a romance so of course it has a lot of the romance genre tropes, but it was still enjoyable. There is a good chance that I would read more in this series.
July 19, 2015
c'était court mais très choupi-chou et Galen rhaaaaaa ♥♥♥♥♥
July 22, 2015
What a great read! For any outlander fans this book is so enjoyable, and kinda funny in some parts, I highly recommended
May 16, 2020
3.75
Sloane ne cherche pas le prince charmant. Elle cherche un faux petit ami.
Voilà deux semaines qu'elle est en vacances en Écosse. Dans le petit village de Gairloch, le seul wifi un tant soit peu fonctionnel se trouve au Chardon Noir, un pub où le sarcastique propriétaire qui travaille comme barman l'a prise en grippe. Son plan pour arrêter ses amies d'essayer de la caser avec un homme, suite à la rupture de ses fiançailles, avait pourtant bien commencé mais voilà que Sloane se retrouve dans de beaux draps parce qu'elles ont décidé de la rejoindre. Vite, elle doit trouver un homme qui acceptera de jouer le rôle de son nouveau copain pour une semaine ou deux. Mais les spécimens intéressants ne courrent pas les rues à Gairloch et Sloane n'a d'autre choix que de jeter son dévolu sur Galen, le bourru et arrogant mais vif d'esprit barman qui a un physique à lui donner des frissons.
Si vous avez aimé le film Leap Year, ce livre a des chances de vous plaire. J'ai passé un bon moment et bien rigolé à suivre Sloane et Galen dans leurs échanges verbaux et fausse relation qui bien sûr engendre éventuellement de vrais sentiments mais j'aurais probablement apprécié d'avantage si on avait pu être dans la tête de Galen à l'occasion car sans ça, c'est difficile de voir ce qu'il y a derrière ses répliques on ne peut plus macho.
Sloane ne cherche pas le prince charmant. Elle cherche un faux petit ami.
Voilà deux semaines qu'elle est en vacances en Écosse. Dans le petit village de Gairloch, le seul wifi un tant soit peu fonctionnel se trouve au Chardon Noir, un pub où le sarcastique propriétaire qui travaille comme barman l'a prise en grippe. Son plan pour arrêter ses amies d'essayer de la caser avec un homme, suite à la rupture de ses fiançailles, avait pourtant bien commencé mais voilà que Sloane se retrouve dans de beaux draps parce qu'elles ont décidé de la rejoindre. Vite, elle doit trouver un homme qui acceptera de jouer le rôle de son nouveau copain pour une semaine ou deux. Mais les spécimens intéressants ne courrent pas les rues à Gairloch et Sloane n'a d'autre choix que de jeter son dévolu sur Galen, le bourru et arrogant mais vif d'esprit barman qui a un physique à lui donner des frissons.
Si vous avez aimé le film Leap Year, ce livre a des chances de vous plaire. J'ai passé un bon moment et bien rigolé à suivre Sloane et Galen dans leurs échanges verbaux et fausse relation qui bien sûr engendre éventuellement de vrais sentiments mais j'aurais probablement apprécié d'avantage si on avait pu être dans la tête de Galen à l'occasion car sans ça, c'est difficile de voir ce qu'il y a derrière ses répliques on ne peut plus macho.
March 1, 2025
Kind of loved this
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