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Those Manning Men #3
Bride on the Loose (Kesempatan Kedua)
Carrie Weston memohon Jason Manning untuk berkencan dengan ibunya, Charlotte. Remaja itu menganggap kesepian Charlotte adalah alasan utama mengapa ibunya bersikap kolot dan melarangnya berkencan. Mungkin kalau Charlotte mau menerima ajakan kencan Jason, sikap kolotnya akan luntur. Awalnya Jason tidak tertarik untuk terlibat dalam pertengkaran ibu dan anak itu. Tapi akhirnya ia tak bisa menghindar dari jebakan Carrie. Saat bertemu dengan Charlotte, Jason malah jatuh cinta. Ternyata wanita itu berbeda dengan wanita-wanita lain yang selama ini selalu mengejar-ngejarnya. Charlotte menghormati kebebasannya, dan yang terpenting, ternyata ia juga menyukai olah raga. Ternyata hubungan mereka tidak terlalu mulus. Charlotte menyimpan rahasia besar tentang perkawinannya yang terdahulu. Ia tak ingin membuka rahasia iru karena takut Jason akan membencinya. Tapi kalau rahasia itu tidak terbongkar, bagaimana Jason bisa mencintai Charlotte seutuhnya?
296 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 1992
259 people are currently reading
644 people want to read
About the author
Debbie Macomber
907 books20.7k followersDebbie Macomber is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and one of today’s most popular writers with more than 200 million copies of her books in print worldwide. In her novels, Macomber brings to life compelling relationships that embrace family and enduring friendships, uplifting her readers with stories of connection and hope. Macomber’s novels have spent over 1,000 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Fifteen of these novels hit the number one spot.
In 2023, Macomber’s all-new hardcover publication includes Must Love Flowers (July). In addition to fiction, Macomber has also published three bestselling cookbooks, three adult coloring books, numerous inspirational and nonfiction works, and two acclaimed children’s books.
Celebrated as “the official storyteller of Christmas”, Macomber’s annual Christmas books are beloved and six have been crafted into original Hallmark Channel movies. Macomber is also the author of the bestselling Cedar Cove Series which the Hallmark Channel chose as the basis for its first dramatic scripted television series. Debuting in 2013, Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove was a ratings favorite for three seasons.
She serves on the Guideposts National Advisory Cabinet, is a YFC National Ambassador, and is World Vision’s international spokesperson for their Knit for Kids charity initiative. A devoted grandmother, Debbie and Wayne live in Port Orchard, Washington, the town which inspired the Cedar Cove series.
In 2023, Macomber’s all-new hardcover publication includes Must Love Flowers (July). In addition to fiction, Macomber has also published three bestselling cookbooks, three adult coloring books, numerous inspirational and nonfiction works, and two acclaimed children’s books.
Celebrated as “the official storyteller of Christmas”, Macomber’s annual Christmas books are beloved and six have been crafted into original Hallmark Channel movies. Macomber is also the author of the bestselling Cedar Cove Series which the Hallmark Channel chose as the basis for its first dramatic scripted television series. Debuting in 2013, Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove was a ratings favorite for three seasons.
She serves on the Guideposts National Advisory Cabinet, is a YFC National Ambassador, and is World Vision’s international spokesperson for their Knit for Kids charity initiative. A devoted grandmother, Debbie and Wayne live in Port Orchard, Washington, the town which inspired the Cedar Cove series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews
January 16, 2023
I liked this book when I first read it. However, within a couple of days I realized the plot is about a man who lets his mother bully him and his bride into an immediate marriage, just because it will happen eventually. And the reason - availability of the yacht club?? (Charlotte is not asked, but told that the wedding must be there). The bride, a victim of sexual abuse in her first marriage (which is foreshadowed but not revealed until the end) is obviously terrified of the wedding and the wedding night. But no one seems to notice or pay attention! And where does Jason get off ordering Charlotte to go through everything and “we will fix it later”. The ending is a slapdash mishmash which tries (but fails) to make everything all right in the end.
You might ask why Charlotte doesn’t speak up? Well, folks, that is how sexual abuse victims act. They are demeaned and demoralized until they believe in their own unworthiness.
And where does the mom get off making Jason pay for the fact that his other siblings didn’t have a big family wedding? Her beef should be with them, not Jason. I shudder to think what this bossy mother-in-law will attempt next.
You might ask why Charlotte doesn’t speak up? Well, folks, that is how sexual abuse victims act. They are demeaned and demoralized until they believe in their own unworthiness.
And where does the mom get off making Jason pay for the fact that his other siblings didn’t have a big family wedding? Her beef should be with them, not Jason. I shudder to think what this bossy mother-in-law will attempt next.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2014
Reviewed for THC Reviews
Bride on the Loose is the third story in Debbie Macomber's Those Manning Men series, and I'd have to say it's probably my favorite in the series so far. Carefree bachelor, Jason Manning was the last of the Manning men still standing, but he's finally brought to his knees by a little thing called love, when a matchmaking teenager tries to fix him up with her mom in hopes that having a man in her life will make her mom more lenient about her dating. Jason wasn't too pleased about this and turned the girl down flat, until her machinations brought him and her mother together, leading them to discover they had some things in common. Unfortunately, his new lady love is quite skittish due to a terrible first marriage in which she was abused. This doesn't stop Jason from marrying her and finally giving his family their hoped-for big wedding to attend, but the occasion isn't quite the joyous one it should be when the bride gets cold feet.
Jason has a breezy attitude and tends to be a pretty easy-going guy for the most part. He's a caring veterinarian who gets to save the day by rescuing and treating a badly injured dog that the heroine and her daughter found in the street. When he's not working, Jason is a sports nut who spends nearly all his free time either watching every sport imaginable on TV or playing softball on a team with his brothers. There was one point early in the story when I had misgivings about Jason, because he made a few off-handed comments that seemed rather chauvinistic and which gave me unpleasant memories of his sister's hero, Russ (The Cowboy's Lady). Even though I wasn't terribly amused, I think it was meant to be a humorous battle of the sexes conversation. Other than this incident and one on his wedding day when Jason got extremely ticked off at Charlotte when she told him lies out of fear, with the intention of stopping the wedding, Jason was a pretty good guy who was patient and gentle. Early on in their relationship, it was rather cute how he started falling in love with Charlotte and didn't even realize it at first. He's essentially the consummate bachelor who spends some time protesting his own feelings, but once he makes up his mind, he's pretty much unstoppable. At the end, when Charlotte finally fessed up about everything that happened in her first marriage, Jason was very kind and compassionate.
Charlotte is a single mother who's been through a lot in her life. Her father walked out on her and her mother, and then her mother died when she was only a teenager. She ended up marrying young, and it was an awful marriage that caused her heartache and heartbreak in so many ways. The only good thing that came out of it was her daughter, Carrie, and now that she's divorced, the two of them are basically alone in the world. That doesn't stop Charlotte from longing for a family to call her own, but she was so traumatized by her first husband that she's avoided men like the plague until her daughter decides that her mom needs a man in her life and approaches Jason, who is their landlord, about filling the position. From the beginning, Charlotte is unperturbed by Jason's love of sports and him being a slob. She even held her own when Jason made his lame comments about women. She's also an excellent mother, who obviously adores children and would dearly love to have more. However, the abuse she suffered has made her extremely nervous around men and also something of a people pleaser, who has to learn to stand up for herself and that she's not the woman her husband led her to believe she was.
Since Jason is the last Manning sibling to get married and the only one to have a big wedding, of course, the entire Manning clan is on hand. Still, it was primarily Paul and Leah (Stand-In Wife) and Rich and Jamie (Marriage of Inconvenience), who played the strongest roles, and it was nice to see them and their growing families. As far as I can tell, Debbie Macomber's characters never ever have sex outside of marriage, so it's always amusing to see what schemes she'll come up with next to get her couple hitched quickly before falling into bed (although the door is always closed on these scenes). This time, the well-meaning but overbearing Manning parents played a role in that. Despite how ridiculous some of these scenarios are, I somehow still manage to enjoy the story in the end.
Overall, I really liked Bride on the Loose. I think the only thing that could have made it better is if it had been a bit longer to develop the characters and plot a little more fully. Because of the emotional nature of Charlotte's past, it isn't quite as light and breezy as some of the other stories in the series have been, but it was still a fairly easy read. Now I'm looking forward to finding out what's in store for Christy's ex-fiancé and family friend, James, in the final full-length novel of the series, Same Time, Next Year. Bride on the Loose was originally published as a stand-alone novel in the Silhouette Special Edition line, and was later reprinted in the single-author anthology The Manning Grooms along with the fourth book of the series.
Bride on the Loose is the third story in Debbie Macomber's Those Manning Men series, and I'd have to say it's probably my favorite in the series so far. Carefree bachelor, Jason Manning was the last of the Manning men still standing, but he's finally brought to his knees by a little thing called love, when a matchmaking teenager tries to fix him up with her mom in hopes that having a man in her life will make her mom more lenient about her dating. Jason wasn't too pleased about this and turned the girl down flat, until her machinations brought him and her mother together, leading them to discover they had some things in common. Unfortunately, his new lady love is quite skittish due to a terrible first marriage in which she was abused. This doesn't stop Jason from marrying her and finally giving his family their hoped-for big wedding to attend, but the occasion isn't quite the joyous one it should be when the bride gets cold feet.
Jason has a breezy attitude and tends to be a pretty easy-going guy for the most part. He's a caring veterinarian who gets to save the day by rescuing and treating a badly injured dog that the heroine and her daughter found in the street. When he's not working, Jason is a sports nut who spends nearly all his free time either watching every sport imaginable on TV or playing softball on a team with his brothers. There was one point early in the story when I had misgivings about Jason, because he made a few off-handed comments that seemed rather chauvinistic and which gave me unpleasant memories of his sister's hero, Russ (The Cowboy's Lady). Even though I wasn't terribly amused, I think it was meant to be a humorous battle of the sexes conversation. Other than this incident and one on his wedding day when Jason got extremely ticked off at Charlotte when she told him lies out of fear, with the intention of stopping the wedding, Jason was a pretty good guy who was patient and gentle. Early on in their relationship, it was rather cute how he started falling in love with Charlotte and didn't even realize it at first. He's essentially the consummate bachelor who spends some time protesting his own feelings, but once he makes up his mind, he's pretty much unstoppable. At the end, when Charlotte finally fessed up about everything that happened in her first marriage, Jason was very kind and compassionate.
Charlotte is a single mother who's been through a lot in her life. Her father walked out on her and her mother, and then her mother died when she was only a teenager. She ended up marrying young, and it was an awful marriage that caused her heartache and heartbreak in so many ways. The only good thing that came out of it was her daughter, Carrie, and now that she's divorced, the two of them are basically alone in the world. That doesn't stop Charlotte from longing for a family to call her own, but she was so traumatized by her first husband that she's avoided men like the plague until her daughter decides that her mom needs a man in her life and approaches Jason, who is their landlord, about filling the position. From the beginning, Charlotte is unperturbed by Jason's love of sports and him being a slob. She even held her own when Jason made his lame comments about women. She's also an excellent mother, who obviously adores children and would dearly love to have more. However, the abuse she suffered has made her extremely nervous around men and also something of a people pleaser, who has to learn to stand up for herself and that she's not the woman her husband led her to believe she was.
Since Jason is the last Manning sibling to get married and the only one to have a big wedding, of course, the entire Manning clan is on hand. Still, it was primarily Paul and Leah (Stand-In Wife) and Rich and Jamie (Marriage of Inconvenience), who played the strongest roles, and it was nice to see them and their growing families. As far as I can tell, Debbie Macomber's characters never ever have sex outside of marriage, so it's always amusing to see what schemes she'll come up with next to get her couple hitched quickly before falling into bed (although the door is always closed on these scenes). This time, the well-meaning but overbearing Manning parents played a role in that. Despite how ridiculous some of these scenarios are, I somehow still manage to enjoy the story in the end.
Overall, I really liked Bride on the Loose. I think the only thing that could have made it better is if it had been a bit longer to develop the characters and plot a little more fully. Because of the emotional nature of Charlotte's past, it isn't quite as light and breezy as some of the other stories in the series have been, but it was still a fairly easy read. Now I'm looking forward to finding out what's in store for Christy's ex-fiancé and family friend, James, in the final full-length novel of the series, Same Time, Next Year. Bride on the Loose was originally published as a stand-alone novel in the Silhouette Special Edition line, and was later reprinted in the single-author anthology The Manning Grooms along with the fourth book of the series.
February 4, 2024
It may seem monotonous as you read through the tribulations of Charlotte. In reality, it takes one through the potential actual thought process of a woman who was verbally thus mentally abused. It is amazing the DM can put such a deep feeling into writing.
September 7, 2023
Very easy, quick Romance read. Predictable story bit a nice light summer novella
November 11, 2021
How does a woman whose been sexually abused heal? This story addresses this issue in a sensitive way.
August 9, 2018
Old 90s book with a new cover. A poor representation of a woman who endured sexual abuse in her first marriage and how she handled being with a man again.
November 3, 2014
A very charming love story. I love how patient Jason is.
April 18, 2025
Jason and Charlotte
It was ok, but I wouldn't necessarily want to re-read. Their connection was ok, but I wasn't a big fan of heroine.
While I understand that the heroine was very damaged from her first marriage, her constantly running away when she got scared and reacting in anger to things without all the facts got a bit annoying. I didn't like the repetitive negative thoughts and her constantly thinking about her ex-husband.
I get that it's realistic that heroine would not just automatically get over 15 years of belief about herself when she fell in love with hero. However her constantly thinking how terrible she was is not something I would want to re-read again.
Hero was ok, I didn't think I would like him when he was first introduced and revealed how he lived in filth. However it was cute how after spending time with heroine for a few hours he took initiative to start to clean up things on his own. P.
It was ok, but I wouldn't necessarily want to re-read. Their connection was ok, but I wasn't a big fan of heroine.
While I understand that the heroine was very damaged from her first marriage, her constantly running away when she got scared and reacting in anger to things without all the facts got a bit annoying. I didn't like the repetitive negative thoughts and her constantly thinking about her ex-husband.
I get that it's realistic that heroine would not just automatically get over 15 years of belief about herself when she fell in love with hero. However her constantly thinking how terrible she was is not something I would want to re-read again.
Hero was ok, I didn't think I would like him when he was first introduced and revealed how he lived in filth. However it was cute how after spending time with heroine for a few hours he took initiative to start to clean up things on his own. P.
September 14, 2022
This book was soooo good. Jason, a vet, is propositioned by Carrie, a 9th grader who wants to find her mom a date. Charlotte, is. Young divorcee who is just trying to raise her teenage daughter and is not looking for love. With a couple of chance encounters thanks to Carrie the two meet and live blossoms.
This book touched on some tougher subjects and they say they were handled was beautiful. I will say if rape is a trigger for you it is touched on but in a delicate way and with such respect for the victim I was truly in awe.
This book made me think of Debbie Macomber like a lot of people think of Colleen Hoover with her emotional subject but it was done in a mess in your face manner.
This book touched on some tougher subjects and they say they were handled was beautiful. I will say if rape is a trigger for you it is touched on but in a delicate way and with such respect for the victim I was truly in awe.
This book made me think of Debbie Macomber like a lot of people think of Colleen Hoover with her emotional subject but it was done in a mess in your face manner.
April 21, 2023
Rating: 5 Stars!!
Review:
Another Phenomenal Romance Novel in Those Manning Men Series by Debbie Macomber!!
The Characters were so interesting and intrigung to read about. It was hard to pick just one since i really enjoyed all the characters.
The Setting was beautifully described which made me feel like i was actually in the book while reading, especially when the scenery was described.
Overall A Good and Enjoyable Romance in this series!! Can't wait to read more by Debbie in the future!!
Review:
Another Phenomenal Romance Novel in Those Manning Men Series by Debbie Macomber!!
The Characters were so interesting and intrigung to read about. It was hard to pick just one since i really enjoyed all the characters.
The Setting was beautifully described which made me feel like i was actually in the book while reading, especially when the scenery was described.
Overall A Good and Enjoyable Romance in this series!! Can't wait to read more by Debbie in the future!!
June 4, 2023
This is a quick romance novel that lacks in depth substance despite the heavy topics it explores.
I was thoroughly frustrated with the way the Manning family manipulated Charlotte into a wedding especially because Jason claims to love her and give her patience. Also the title is a major spoiler…
The characters are flat (Charlotte is a single mom with a history of abuse; Jason is a bachelor who changes for love), and the chemistry is lacking yet quickly leads to marriage.
I was thoroughly frustrated with the way the Manning family manipulated Charlotte into a wedding especially because Jason claims to love her and give her patience. Also the title is a major spoiler…
The characters are flat (Charlotte is a single mom with a history of abuse; Jason is a bachelor who changes for love), and the chemistry is lacking yet quickly leads to marriage.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2020
Charlotte was abused, mentally and physically, by her now ex. He made her think she was cold and not good at sex. It's been years, yet she still hasn't completely recovered. Jason was a confirmed bachelor until Charlotte. Her daughter does try to push things forward.
I have been where Charlotte was. She has found someone willing to help her.
I have been where Charlotte was. She has found someone willing to help her.
February 26, 2023
I think we all have doubts when we about to get married if we will meet the high expectations of the other person we are marrying in so many areas. For x amount of years we were brought up to respect and please our parents, grandparents. NOw we are trading off for a new life with a new person. It’s even more important to make sure we please and make everything work! Great story. Great novel.
May 27, 2023
Confirmed bachelor Jason is surprised when the daughter of one of his tenants demands he date her mom. She even cooks up a way for them to mean, but when he meets her, he's surprised by the attraction. Can he break through the barrier surrounding her heart to show her she's worthy of love? A sweet romance with lots of wit and hilarious escapades.
September 3, 2023
Touching
Debbie MaComber does it again, catches you from the first page to the last! Her Characters give you the wonder and hardships of a new relationship and falling in love. Two independent people working to build a life together after teams in the past.I highly recommend this book!
Debbie MaComber does it again, catches you from the first page to the last! Her Characters give you the wonder and hardships of a new relationship and falling in love. Two independent people working to build a life together after teams in the past.I highly recommend this book!
December 23, 2024
I’m loving Debbie Macomber’s books right now and this one is no different!
I could’ve done without the forced wedding and how involved the in-laws were in planning the wedding. That part felt really rushed to me.
Nonetheless, Jason was the sweetest guy and now I want to read about the other Manning siblings.
I could’ve done without the forced wedding and how involved the in-laws were in planning the wedding. That part felt really rushed to me.
Nonetheless, Jason was the sweetest guy and now I want to read about the other Manning siblings.
July 28, 2025
Carrie is a teenager who wants to find someone for her single mother. She is looking to play matchmaker. Jason is their single apartment manager and a bachelor. Charlotte is Carrie's mom. It is funny and interesting and exciting to read all the different things that happen in this book. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.
April 15, 2025
DNF 30 pages in because the main guy love interest says, and I quote: “Admit it. Men are superior, and if you haven’t owned up to it by now, you should. Don’t forget, God created us first.”
Yeah I’ll pass. Using sexism as a plot device in a romance novel ain’t it.
Yeah I’ll pass. Using sexism as a plot device in a romance novel ain’t it.
September 14, 2017
One of her better stories of true love happening.
January 17, 2018
Brides fears
I'm so confused at why woman can be so afraid of real love that she runs from it. When healing finally comes to the marriage she realizes happiness.
I'm so confused at why woman can be so afraid of real love that she runs from it. When healing finally comes to the marriage she realizes happiness.
April 8, 2018
Good Read
I enjoyed this book very much. Wouldn’t we all like to find a Jason. Ms Macomber always delights.
Thank you
I enjoyed this book very much. Wouldn’t we all like to find a Jason. Ms Macomber always delights.
Thank you
August 8, 2018
very good read
April 22, 2021
A 3.5 to 4 read.
October 17, 2022
This one is my favorite of the series so far. Jason is a wonderful man in my opinion. It touches on some serious triggering issues though so be warned.
October 29, 2022
Hallmark movie. Two stories in one book, basics the same story twice.
July 22, 2023
I enjoyed this book a lot. I like Debbie macombers writing. I actually sat on the beach and finished an audiobook. I hope she writes more books.
September 25, 2024
Nicely done. Cathy R
October 15, 2024
I barely finished this one....so many wrong choices, made worse. I need a strong female lead, not this weak one whatever her reasons.
April 12, 2025
very nice story
Displaying 1 - 30 of 55 reviews