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Power of the Matchmaker
King of the Friend Zone
Esme Taylor has an amazing fiancé, a lifelong best friend, and a problem. The problem stems from the fact that her best friend is named Hunter and, well. . .he’s kind of (totally) hot. It’s hate at first sight when her fiancé, Jon, and Hunter meet. Jon’s convinced that Hunter is in love with Esme, and that Hunter must be out of the picture if their upcoming marriage is to succeed.
Esme thinks Jon is paranoid.
The truth is, Jon’s not that far off. Hunter is in love with his best friend and always has been. What Jon has wrong, however, is that Hunter never had any plans of ruining Esme’s happily ever after. Hunter wants what’s best for Esme, even if that’s not him.
When Jon pushes hard to end Esme and Hunter’s friendship, opposition comes from the most unlikely of places. It’s an eccentric lady with a cookie cart who suggests a different solution to Esme’s problem: Hunter and Esme should give each other a chance.
They’ve both thought of the possibility over the years—of course they have. But with a ring already on Esme’s finger and a heap of hurt feelings and broken trust in the mix, there hasn’t been a worse time to explore the depths of their feelings for each other.
Both Esme and Hunter think it’s time to move on and leave childhood crushes in the past. The question is: Can one woman and the taste of one cookie change their minds?
Note to Reader: This book is a "clean" read with mainstream values and minor language.
Esme thinks Jon is paranoid.
The truth is, Jon’s not that far off. Hunter is in love with his best friend and always has been. What Jon has wrong, however, is that Hunter never had any plans of ruining Esme’s happily ever after. Hunter wants what’s best for Esme, even if that’s not him.
When Jon pushes hard to end Esme and Hunter’s friendship, opposition comes from the most unlikely of places. It’s an eccentric lady with a cookie cart who suggests a different solution to Esme’s problem: Hunter and Esme should give each other a chance.
They’ve both thought of the possibility over the years—of course they have. But with a ring already on Esme’s finger and a heap of hurt feelings and broken trust in the mix, there hasn’t been a worse time to explore the depths of their feelings for each other.
Both Esme and Hunter think it’s time to move on and leave childhood crushes in the past. The question is: Can one woman and the taste of one cookie change their minds?
Note to Reader: This book is a "clean" read with mainstream values and minor language.
322 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2016
122 people are currently reading
830 people want to read
About the author
Sheralyn Pratt
22 books284 followersI like to keep things light and fun, and believe that life is journey so if you're going to buy a book, your life should better for it. Whether a book I write is intended to help you escape for a few hours or designed to teach you a new skill, I hope you find it unforgettable...in a good way. ;)
Current/Upcoming Titles:
- Pimpernel
- Walk of Infamy
- King of the Friend Zone
- The Kiss that Launched 1,000 GIFs
About the Rhea Jensen series. I like to tongue-in-cheek tell people, WARNING: This Series Contains Mormons. This series is more mystery/adventure with a dab of romance. HOWEVER, the last book in the series, Walk of Infamy, will be a stand-alone novel and end to the Rhea Jensen series that Pimpernel fans will likely enjoy.
Current/Upcoming Titles:
- Pimpernel
- Walk of Infamy
- King of the Friend Zone
- The Kiss that Launched 1,000 GIFs
About the Rhea Jensen series. I like to tongue-in-cheek tell people, WARNING: This Series Contains Mormons. This series is more mystery/adventure with a dab of romance. HOWEVER, the last book in the series, Walk of Infamy, will be a stand-alone novel and end to the Rhea Jensen series that Pimpernel fans will likely enjoy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 230 reviews
February 9, 2017
Sheralyn did it again! Loved this one. This is my favorite type of romance novel. Clean with plenty of humor. One of my favorite writers!
This is part of the Power of the Matchmaker series but reads perfectly as a stand alone. I love Pearl's role in this one. Great addition to this series. It also features characters from her Kiss that Launched 1,000 Gifs story. Looking forward to her next book!
Source: Received a review copy, purchased a finished copy
Originally Read August 2016 - Reread November 2016 - Great book!!
This is part of the Power of the Matchmaker series but reads perfectly as a stand alone. I love Pearl's role in this one. Great addition to this series. It also features characters from her Kiss that Launched 1,000 Gifs story. Looking forward to her next book!
Source: Received a review copy, purchased a finished copy
Originally Read August 2016 - Reread November 2016 - Great book!!
January 2, 2017
This turns out to be a follow-on from The Kiss That Launched 1,000 Gifs, though you don't really need to read that one first. It's also part of the annoying Matchmaker series, but it actually handles Pearl better than most of the others have so that was way less annoying than I expected.
While I like friends-to-lovers stories in a squishy kind of way, they all have to clear the very real hurdle of "why aren't they already together." This one didn't handle that any better than average. Indeed, all the problems I had with the story come from the setup of them not being together already. Esme has been dating a guy for six months and Hunter only meets him after she's accepted a proposal? Pratt works that into the fundamental weakness of the engagement, but that doesn't mean it actually works once I think it through. Indeed, the fiancé, Jon, doesn't work well on the whole. We hear about how comfortable their relationship is, but, while that's clearly at least partially Esme's wishful thinking, it's completely contradicted by every experience we have with him. I mean, he's really a controlling jerk. So the whole time Esme has her head screwed up with the guy, it just grates. And Hunter has a really good point about how far Esme was willing to go to appease the controlling jerk and that she betrayed their friendship in kind of a core way in catering to Jon's insecurities.
Which is a lot of negative to heap on the book, as that's kind of the central narrative. So why the four stars? Well, that comes down to Hunter and Esme, really. They're fantastic characters, interesting people, and are one of the best examples of seeming opposites being so clearly suited to one another in that way where each completes the other. Their friendship is outstanding and sweet and they worked out the disconnect that allowed the Jon aberration in ways that made them even stronger and better suited to one another. And Pratt handles the surrounding plot adroitly and surrounds them with interesting people and events and that helped a lot, as well.
So yeah, Hunter is awesome clear through. And Esme becomes great once she scrapes off the barnacle and that was enough to keep me riveted.
While I like friends-to-lovers stories in a squishy kind of way, they all have to clear the very real hurdle of "why aren't they already together." This one didn't handle that any better than average. Indeed, all the problems I had with the story come from the setup of them not being together already. Esme has been dating a guy for six months and Hunter only meets him after she's accepted a proposal? Pratt works that into the fundamental weakness of the engagement, but that doesn't mean it actually works once I think it through. Indeed, the fiancé, Jon, doesn't work well on the whole. We hear about how comfortable their relationship is, but, while that's clearly at least partially Esme's wishful thinking, it's completely contradicted by every experience we have with him. I mean, he's really a controlling jerk. So the whole time Esme has her head screwed up with the guy, it just grates. And Hunter has a really good point about how far Esme was willing to go to appease the controlling jerk and that she betrayed their friendship in kind of a core way in catering to Jon's insecurities.
Which is a lot of negative to heap on the book, as that's kind of the central narrative. So why the four stars? Well, that comes down to Hunter and Esme, really. They're fantastic characters, interesting people, and are one of the best examples of seeming opposites being so clearly suited to one another in that way where each completes the other. Their friendship is outstanding and sweet and they worked out the disconnect that allowed the Jon aberration in ways that made them even stronger and better suited to one another. And Pratt handles the surrounding plot adroitly and surrounds them with interesting people and events and that helped a lot, as well.
So yeah, Hunter is awesome clear through. And Esme becomes great once she scrapes off the barnacle and that was enough to keep me riveted.
September 2, 2016
It's amazing to me that an author can continue to deliver fantastic books over and over again, and Ms. Pratt does a fantastic job of doing just that. This book is part of the The Matchmaker series, but can stand alone, as each book just has one central character--Pearl, the matchmaker. Esme is the best friend of Grace, the main character from The Kiss That Launched 1,000 Gifs (you can see my review here), but this one can also stand alone.
Esme has finally found her perfect match in Jon, but her lifelong best friend, Hunter, isn't convinced. Through a long course of broken trust and hurt feelings, this story unfolds in a way that completely pierced my heart and soul.
Esme and Hunter have the best, most intriguing relationship ever! I love their texting banters, their jealous moments, and the way they know each other so well. I love how determined Esme is in being fair in her relationship with Jon. I love how selfless, humorous, and hard working Hunter is. I love the strong friendships that are found with Luke, Daryl, Grace, and others. I love the setting--San Fransisco--with the vivid descriptions. I love the role that Pearl plays, as a cookie lady, and the secret ingredient of the cookies is just perfect. Seriously...what's not to love about this book? Okay, there are a few things, namely a certain jerk of a character, but overall, this book had me laughing, swooning, yelling, and even tearing up. The love, the fights, the jealousy, the deep soul-searching moments--I loved it all and I couldn't put it down! I haven't ever been disappointed by a Sheralyn Pratt book and I have high hopes for her future works.
Content: mild, crude language; mild romance (some innuendo, Jon is a plastic surgeon who specializes in breasts, so that's referenced to a few times, kissing); mild violence (some anger issues and fighting, talk of abuse). Clean!
*I received a copy in exchange for an honest review*
Esme has finally found her perfect match in Jon, but her lifelong best friend, Hunter, isn't convinced. Through a long course of broken trust and hurt feelings, this story unfolds in a way that completely pierced my heart and soul.
Esme and Hunter have the best, most intriguing relationship ever! I love their texting banters, their jealous moments, and the way they know each other so well. I love how determined Esme is in being fair in her relationship with Jon. I love how selfless, humorous, and hard working Hunter is. I love the strong friendships that are found with Luke, Daryl, Grace, and others. I love the setting--San Fransisco--with the vivid descriptions. I love the role that Pearl plays, as a cookie lady, and the secret ingredient of the cookies is just perfect. Seriously...what's not to love about this book? Okay, there are a few things, namely a certain jerk of a character, but overall, this book had me laughing, swooning, yelling, and even tearing up. The love, the fights, the jealousy, the deep soul-searching moments--I loved it all and I couldn't put it down! I haven't ever been disappointed by a Sheralyn Pratt book and I have high hopes for her future works.
Content: mild, crude language; mild romance (some innuendo, Jon is a plastic surgeon who specializes in breasts, so that's referenced to a few times, kissing); mild violence (some anger issues and fighting, talk of abuse). Clean!
*I received a copy in exchange for an honest review*
February 26, 2017
As it always happens, whenever I read a book by Sheralyn Pratt, I can't put it down until I've devoured the entire thing in one sitting. And since I usually read at night after my kids go to bed, this makes for some pretty late nights ;) This time it was 2:52 am, but even after that I couldn't sleep and had to type some notes about the story in my phone to share in my review. I was a bit of a zombie the next day but it was totally worth it! Don't you just love books that leave you feeling totally satisfied?
So, what stood out to me about King of the Friend Zone is what I thought was the most creative use of Miss Pearl of all the books in the Power of the Matchmaker series. I loved the cookie angle and how it reflected the "flavor" of a relationship. Miss Pearl was pretty subtle about it at first which I liked since it made it not seem gimmicky.
Esme and Hunter share a special bond, but they do spend much of the story avoiding or denying their deeper romantic feelings since their dynamic is based on the fear of risking their friendship or facing rejection. Hunter identifies with a friend Luke, who pines after a woman who married someone else, but can't move on and insists on being there for her as a friend. Esme's fiancé provides much of the conflict when he coerces her to cut Hunter from her daily life, and Hunter sees that even being the third wheel isn't part of his future with her. Part of me was mad that Esme was so conciliatory to Jon, but the author does such a good job of showing the personalities and vulnerabilities in play that I could see why everyone was acting the way they were, and it felt realistic and complex.
The other aspects of Hunter and Esme's lives blend seamlessly into the plot and add another dimension to their characters. A crisis they handled together demonstrated how perfect they are together, not because they match (like she and Jon did) but because their differences complement each other and there is a deep foundation of trust. Some of the unexpected twists in this book had my jaw dropping as I was reading and made me think "what the what?!?!" I loved that the story wasn't completely predictable or cliché, but had me seriously glued to the pages as Hunter and Esme angst their way to a happy ending.
And... hands down the most epic best man toast at the engagement party.
(Thank you to Ebooks For Review for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)
So, what stood out to me about King of the Friend Zone is what I thought was the most creative use of Miss Pearl of all the books in the Power of the Matchmaker series. I loved the cookie angle and how it reflected the "flavor" of a relationship. Miss Pearl was pretty subtle about it at first which I liked since it made it not seem gimmicky.
Esme and Hunter share a special bond, but they do spend much of the story avoiding or denying their deeper romantic feelings since their dynamic is based on the fear of risking their friendship or facing rejection. Hunter identifies with a friend Luke, who pines after a woman who married someone else, but can't move on and insists on being there for her as a friend. Esme's fiancé provides much of the conflict when he coerces her to cut Hunter from her daily life, and Hunter sees that even being the third wheel isn't part of his future with her. Part of me was mad that Esme was so conciliatory to Jon, but the author does such a good job of showing the personalities and vulnerabilities in play that I could see why everyone was acting the way they were, and it felt realistic and complex.
The other aspects of Hunter and Esme's lives blend seamlessly into the plot and add another dimension to their characters. A crisis they handled together demonstrated how perfect they are together, not because they match (like she and Jon did) but because their differences complement each other and there is a deep foundation of trust. Some of the unexpected twists in this book had my jaw dropping as I was reading and made me think "what the what?!?!" I loved that the story wasn't completely predictable or cliché, but had me seriously glued to the pages as Hunter and Esme angst their way to a happy ending.
And... hands down the most epic best man toast at the engagement party.
(Thank you to Ebooks For Review for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)
November 14, 2020
I really love the Power of the Matchmaker series! Each book is unique, and can stand alone, but each are connected through the fun character of Matchmaker Pearl. I love her character!
So, I did enjoy this one. Ms. Pratt always writes engaging stories that make you stop and think and of course fall in love along the way. I was a little nervous because the whole Best Friend To Lovers trope is not a favorite of mine I thought it was handled well in this book though, felt natural and realistic. You could see how over the years Hunter and Esme had gotten to where they were. I still felt badly for people who had dated them when neither was really emotionally available, but again thought it was handled well. While I didn't care for Emse's fiance, he did have some valid concerns and he probably could have handled things a little better.
Anyway, this was a sweet story, I liked Hunter and Esme and you can't help but hope they can figure things out. I thought it was well written, sucked me in from the beginning and kept me engaged. Definitely one I would recommend.
Content
Romance: Clean
Language: None
Violence: None
Religious: None
Series: Power of the Matchmaker, can standalone. Also a companion novel to The Kiss That Launched 1,000 Gifs
Source: Review Copy
So, I did enjoy this one. Ms. Pratt always writes engaging stories that make you stop and think and of course fall in love along the way. I was a little nervous because the whole Best Friend To Lovers trope is not a favorite of mine I thought it was handled well in this book though, felt natural and realistic. You could see how over the years Hunter and Esme had gotten to where they were. I still felt badly for people who had dated them when neither was really emotionally available, but again thought it was handled well. While I didn't care for Emse's fiance, he did have some valid concerns and he probably could have handled things a little better.
Anyway, this was a sweet story, I liked Hunter and Esme and you can't help but hope they can figure things out. I thought it was well written, sucked me in from the beginning and kept me engaged. Definitely one I would recommend.
Content
Romance: Clean
Language: None
Violence: None
Religious: None
Series: Power of the Matchmaker, can standalone. Also a companion novel to The Kiss That Launched 1,000 Gifs
Source: Review Copy
November 19, 2020
Best Friend to Lovers, Cliche, Matchmakers, Super fun read.
Hunter, the male MC, had been in love with his childhood friend, Esme for as long as he could remember but had been unable to confess to her for fear that it would ruin their friendship. All hell let loose when Esme announced her engagement to a successful plastic surgeon, Jon. Jon, the perfect fiance, hated Hunter's guts and tried all he could to severe their friendship. Esme on the other hand, was left to choose between her fiance and her best friend.
I have read a lot of best friend to lovers romance and this is one of my favorites. The matchmaker played her role perfectly. Hunter's speech at Esme's engagement party was hilarious and I really did enjoy myself.
Hunter, the male MC, had been in love with his childhood friend, Esme for as long as he could remember but had been unable to confess to her for fear that it would ruin their friendship. All hell let loose when Esme announced her engagement to a successful plastic surgeon, Jon. Jon, the perfect fiance, hated Hunter's guts and tried all he could to severe their friendship. Esme on the other hand, was left to choose between her fiance and her best friend.
I have read a lot of best friend to lovers romance and this is one of my favorites. The matchmaker played her role perfectly. Hunter's speech at Esme's engagement party was hilarious and I really did enjoy myself.
October 1, 2016
Wow! Sheralyn Pratt definitely is on my auto-buy list now. This is the third unforgettable book I have read by this author and I don’t know how she consistently writes stuff that strongly exercises the mind and emotions of the reader yet still entertains a fun escape. In the novels I have read so far she always is seamlessly able to include information on the side to raise awareness, educate, or inform the reader on various biological, psychological, or sociological issues.
Like her other novels I really liked the character development in this one. Sheralyn Pratt always gives her character believable special talents. If she doesn’t turn perceived weaknesses into powerful gifts she is able to turn what strengths they have into one.
The heroine Esme’s from birth lifelong best friend Hunter for example in this one has dyslexia and also one of the most crippling forms of dysgraphia. Hunter’s frustration with these learning disabilities also gave him much childhood anger. He was gifted with great athletic physical ability though. He uses this gift he does have to help others. He uses this great athletic physical ability of his to be like Dwayne Johnson’s action hero character Ray in the film San Andreas. Instead of the Los Angeles Fire Department Special Rescue Team, Hunter is on the San Francisco Fire Department Special Rescue Team that handles the most dangerous rescues on land and in water. Radioactive leaks, things being crushed or blown, cars on fire, drowning people, people hanging off or jumping off structures, or other situations too dangerous for other fire teams, Hunter’s team goes in. He has also turned his former anger issues into a gift to help and have understanding for struggling children with behavior issues and using this understanding and the sport of boxing (which helped him) to help these children that their social workers send to him when they themselves are at their end of their proverbial rope to help.
On top of the courageous heroic person Hunter is who helps people, which makes him a gorgeous person on the inside, he also is an unusually stunningly gorgeous looking man on the outside. This causes problems for Esme when she gets engaged to the perfect man in her mind Jon that is everything on her list she has ever wanted, but this Jon apparently wants Esme’s best friend Hunter out the picture believing Hunter is romantically in love with Esme and will try to steal his future wife. Jon is right about Hunter having romantic feelings for Esme, but wrong about him having plans to pursue those feelings or destroy Jon and Esme’s relationship or possible future happiness. Hunter knows he doesn’t fill the requirements of the aforementioned Esme’s list for her perfect man that Jon the educated professional plastic surgeon does. Even if he did, he loves her too much as best friend and like adopted family to ever do that. Esme painstakingly tries to be fair and considerate to Jon’s feelings and empathetic to his demands to not communicate or see Hunter which causes heart piercing pain to Hunter and makes Esme and Hunter’s families which do everything together uncomfortable. There is zero cheating in this novel.
There wasn't much a trouble deciding on for this reader whether to be on Team Jon or Team Hunter. Jon had all the red flags of being the worst kind of future abuser. The type of deceptive pathological subject that victim, friends, and family never suspect will do harm. I really saw if Esme married Jon he was going to be like the husband in Rough Around the Edges Meets Refined by Rachael Anderson and show his full colors after the wedding night. Sheralyn Pratt doesn't ever go in this direction for Jon, but he had all the signs. This is purely my mental health professional mind over analyzing a fictional character. He was unnaturally perfect the six months they dated before they got engaged never disagreeing with her and being one with her on everything. Meets Esme’s family and does the same thing. He is totally charming and mimics their feelings on everything. No one agrees with everything or shares the same emotional responses to everything as their romantic partner or future in-laws. Then he starts telling Esme what friends to have, but doesn't seclude her from all of them. He then denigrates the importance of her job and tries to undermine her working her job over and over and over. First it is Hunter now her job is getting in the way of the success of their relationship. He kept gaslighting manipulating her every time she disagrees with something he says or she almost catches him doing something, making her think she is just paranoid or at fault. Boy was Jon a skilled actor! Then all his cruelty and calculating aggression behind Emma’s back towards Hunter. His planned out way to get rid of Hunter devoid of conscience toward others and moral qualms. I kept wishing Hunter would tell Emma the truth about the real Jon though he didn’t want to hurt her or that Emma would catch on for once.
Like I said I really enjoyed this one. It wasn't totally romance driven and had bits of other genres. Though the epilogue I promise is totally squeal like an adolescent girl at a boy-band concert epic romantically swoony. Since Hunter wasn't able to be with around Esme privately anymore most of the novel there are other sideline stories to capture the reader’s attention as well. There was Hunter with a troubled teenage youth at the boxing gym and seeing that teen progress through the novel. There were emergency action scenes with Hunter and his special team. There was a brief heart-pounding forensic thriller story line. There also is a tiny paranormal aspect to the novel involving a Miss Pearl and cookies which aren't normal cookies.
This is Book 9 of The Power of the Matchmaker series which is one full length novel a month, each from a different author, various genres, various time periods, and all completely stand-alone. The only thing connecting them is that "The Matchmaker" Miss Pearl makes an appearance in all the novels. The matchmaker's free prequel novella origin story introducing the series is the Power of the Matchmaker and highly recommended by this reader. The heroine in King of the Friend Zone Esme Taylor appeared prior as the best friend of the heroine in The Kiss That Launched 1,000 Gifs also by Sheralyn Pratt. The hero of the King of the Friend Zone is also briefly mentioned in the aforementioned title. So yay this also is a sequel to The Kiss That Launched 1,000 Gifs!
Sensuality content: Clean.
Source: Review copy in exchange for 100% honest opinion.
Like her other novels I really liked the character development in this one. Sheralyn Pratt always gives her character believable special talents. If she doesn’t turn perceived weaknesses into powerful gifts she is able to turn what strengths they have into one.
The heroine Esme’s from birth lifelong best friend Hunter for example in this one has dyslexia and also one of the most crippling forms of dysgraphia. Hunter’s frustration with these learning disabilities also gave him much childhood anger. He was gifted with great athletic physical ability though. He uses this gift he does have to help others. He uses this great athletic physical ability of his to be like Dwayne Johnson’s action hero character Ray in the film San Andreas. Instead of the Los Angeles Fire Department Special Rescue Team, Hunter is on the San Francisco Fire Department Special Rescue Team that handles the most dangerous rescues on land and in water. Radioactive leaks, things being crushed or blown, cars on fire, drowning people, people hanging off or jumping off structures, or other situations too dangerous for other fire teams, Hunter’s team goes in. He has also turned his former anger issues into a gift to help and have understanding for struggling children with behavior issues and using this understanding and the sport of boxing (which helped him) to help these children that their social workers send to him when they themselves are at their end of their proverbial rope to help.
On top of the courageous heroic person Hunter is who helps people, which makes him a gorgeous person on the inside, he also is an unusually stunningly gorgeous looking man on the outside. This causes problems for Esme when she gets engaged to the perfect man in her mind Jon that is everything on her list she has ever wanted, but this Jon apparently wants Esme’s best friend Hunter out the picture believing Hunter is romantically in love with Esme and will try to steal his future wife. Jon is right about Hunter having romantic feelings for Esme, but wrong about him having plans to pursue those feelings or destroy Jon and Esme’s relationship or possible future happiness. Hunter knows he doesn’t fill the requirements of the aforementioned Esme’s list for her perfect man that Jon the educated professional plastic surgeon does. Even if he did, he loves her too much as best friend and like adopted family to ever do that. Esme painstakingly tries to be fair and considerate to Jon’s feelings and empathetic to his demands to not communicate or see Hunter which causes heart piercing pain to Hunter and makes Esme and Hunter’s families which do everything together uncomfortable. There is zero cheating in this novel.
There wasn't much a trouble deciding on for this reader whether to be on Team Jon or Team Hunter. Jon had all the red flags of being the worst kind of future abuser. The type of deceptive pathological subject that victim, friends, and family never suspect will do harm. I really saw if Esme married Jon he was going to be like the husband in Rough Around the Edges Meets Refined by Rachael Anderson and show his full colors after the wedding night. Sheralyn Pratt doesn't ever go in this direction for Jon, but he had all the signs. This is purely my mental health professional mind over analyzing a fictional character. He was unnaturally perfect the six months they dated before they got engaged never disagreeing with her and being one with her on everything. Meets Esme’s family and does the same thing. He is totally charming and mimics their feelings on everything. No one agrees with everything or shares the same emotional responses to everything as their romantic partner or future in-laws. Then he starts telling Esme what friends to have, but doesn't seclude her from all of them. He then denigrates the importance of her job and tries to undermine her working her job over and over and over. First it is Hunter now her job is getting in the way of the success of their relationship. He kept gaslighting manipulating her every time she disagrees with something he says or she almost catches him doing something, making her think she is just paranoid or at fault. Boy was Jon a skilled actor! Then all his cruelty and calculating aggression behind Emma’s back towards Hunter. His planned out way to get rid of Hunter devoid of conscience toward others and moral qualms. I kept wishing Hunter would tell Emma the truth about the real Jon though he didn’t want to hurt her or that Emma would catch on for once.
Like I said I really enjoyed this one. It wasn't totally romance driven and had bits of other genres. Though the epilogue I promise is totally squeal like an adolescent girl at a boy-band concert epic romantically swoony. Since Hunter wasn't able to be with around Esme privately anymore most of the novel there are other sideline stories to capture the reader’s attention as well. There was Hunter with a troubled teenage youth at the boxing gym and seeing that teen progress through the novel. There were emergency action scenes with Hunter and his special team. There was a brief heart-pounding forensic thriller story line. There also is a tiny paranormal aspect to the novel involving a Miss Pearl and cookies which aren't normal cookies.
This is Book 9 of The Power of the Matchmaker series which is one full length novel a month, each from a different author, various genres, various time periods, and all completely stand-alone. The only thing connecting them is that "The Matchmaker" Miss Pearl makes an appearance in all the novels. The matchmaker's free prequel novella origin story introducing the series is the Power of the Matchmaker and highly recommended by this reader. The heroine in King of the Friend Zone Esme Taylor appeared prior as the best friend of the heroine in The Kiss That Launched 1,000 Gifs also by Sheralyn Pratt. The hero of the King of the Friend Zone is also briefly mentioned in the aforementioned title. So yay this also is a sequel to The Kiss That Launched 1,000 Gifs!
Sensuality content: Clean.
Source: Review copy in exchange for 100% honest opinion.
September 24, 2016
For me, happiness is being married to my best friend. It is wonderful to live and grow with the person who I want to spend time with. For the characters in this story, they need to figure out if they can take a chance on loving their best friend.
Esme's best friend has been Hunter since they were babies. They grew up together, their families spend holidays together. They are each others happy place. But they are too stubborn to admit it to each other.
The book escalates the relationship from "status-quo" when Esme becomes engaged to another man. Pearl is the matchmaker and sets up the tone of the book when the newly engaged couple sample her cookies. Neither one of them like the cookie. The magic ingredient is a kiss. The way the couple feel about kissing each other is tasted in the cookies. Both Esme and her new fiance, Jon, throw them away.
A quote that I enjoyed from the book is when Esme is talking to one of her best friends. It is found at 87% in the book. It reads: "Why do people pretend like falling in love is fun, when really it's the most terrifying thing on the planet?" (New paragraph) "It can be," Grace said. "When you fight it. The part everyone writes stories about are the times when people let go, fall, and embrace the ride. When you fight the ride, I'm pretty sure that's what people call angst."
The things that I loved in this book is a wonderful and patient male protagonist, Hunter. He is everything that you would want in a best friend and companion. In many ways I didn't feel that Esme deserved him. This explored jealousy, selflessness, service, patience, and the look and feel of true love.
It is a clean romance that has innuendo and a little bit of violence.
Esme's best friend has been Hunter since they were babies. They grew up together, their families spend holidays together. They are each others happy place. But they are too stubborn to admit it to each other.
The book escalates the relationship from "status-quo" when Esme becomes engaged to another man. Pearl is the matchmaker and sets up the tone of the book when the newly engaged couple sample her cookies. Neither one of them like the cookie. The magic ingredient is a kiss. The way the couple feel about kissing each other is tasted in the cookies. Both Esme and her new fiance, Jon, throw them away.
A quote that I enjoyed from the book is when Esme is talking to one of her best friends. It is found at 87% in the book. It reads: "Why do people pretend like falling in love is fun, when really it's the most terrifying thing on the planet?" (New paragraph) "It can be," Grace said. "When you fight it. The part everyone writes stories about are the times when people let go, fall, and embrace the ride. When you fight the ride, I'm pretty sure that's what people call angst."
The things that I loved in this book is a wonderful and patient male protagonist, Hunter. He is everything that you would want in a best friend and companion. In many ways I didn't feel that Esme deserved him. This explored jealousy, selflessness, service, patience, and the look and feel of true love.
It is a clean romance that has innuendo and a little bit of violence.
September 8, 2016
Can a male/female best friendship stay that way through life? Chances really aren't that good. One side will probably end up having stronger feelings at some point. It's just the way things go. Or, inevitably, one side moves on with a serious romantic relationship and that partner will be jealous of best friend. It surely makes for a fantastic, classic love story with plenty of drama!
I love this Power of the Matchmaker series. Each novel is independent yet connected by one character who makes an appearance in all the books. Pearl is the matchmaker and I particularly loved her in this book. She was perfect! The whole kiss cookie was such a fun and creative idea. LOVED it!
Esme and Hunter have been best friends their whole lives. They have a history that runs deep and nobody knows them better than the other. Both Hunter and Esme have had feelings stronger than friendship but neither one is willing to cross over that line to risk ruining the friendship that means so much to them. It's maddening as a reader! ha.
I loved both Esme and Hunter. Together and apart. The struggle was real and I was nigh unto pulling my hair out for most of the book! It was fantastic. The pacing was good and I was caught up in the struggle for love.
I also loved that some characters from a previous book by Sheralyn Pratt were included in this book. Hello, old friends!
Overall, just a fun, diverting read! It made me crazy, and happy, and swoony.
I love this Power of the Matchmaker series. Each novel is independent yet connected by one character who makes an appearance in all the books. Pearl is the matchmaker and I particularly loved her in this book. She was perfect! The whole kiss cookie was such a fun and creative idea. LOVED it!
Esme and Hunter have been best friends their whole lives. They have a history that runs deep and nobody knows them better than the other. Both Hunter and Esme have had feelings stronger than friendship but neither one is willing to cross over that line to risk ruining the friendship that means so much to them. It's maddening as a reader! ha.
I loved both Esme and Hunter. Together and apart. The struggle was real and I was nigh unto pulling my hair out for most of the book! It was fantastic. The pacing was good and I was caught up in the struggle for love.
I also loved that some characters from a previous book by Sheralyn Pratt were included in this book. Hello, old friends!
Overall, just a fun, diverting read! It made me crazy, and happy, and swoony.
October 25, 2016
Way fun read with plenty of humor and snark! Really enjoyed this one.
September 7, 2016
I have enjoyed every book that I've read in this Power of the Matchmaker series. I've really enjoyed seeing how the different authors will portray Miss Pearl, the Matchmaker. I think this is one of my favorite portrayals of her so far. Her and her cookie cart. What a cute idea! Her changing her accent had me laughing, especially at the end when it was revealed why she made it more or less noticeable. Overall she was just fun, especially in the epilogue. Cute!
This is my first Sheralyn Pratt book and I will be checking out other books by her, especially The Kiss that Launched 1,000 Gifs. There was an excerpt for that at the end of the book and I was hooked. Grace and Ash, who are the main characters in that one make several appearances in this one so I was definitely excited to see that there was a full novel on those two. Yay!
Overall I really liked this story. There were a couple moments that Esme drove me crazy or that Hunter would drive me crazy, or I just wanted to smack Jon...ok I don't smack anybody really but sometimes these book characters just make me mad. Grrrrrrrrr. I bet you know that I don't like Jon now right? Yeah, I don't like Jon. Not at all. There are times at the beginning that I thought I might like him and it would be hard for me to know which guy to root for for Esme but nope I decided who I wanted pretty fast.
Ok I'm writing my review with the assumption that everyone has read the synopsis, in case not...Esme and Hunter have been bestest friends since babies and Esme gets engaged to someone else. Hunter tries to be the awesome supportive friend but really is struggling because he loves Esme and has from when he was little. But she's chosen someone else, and it's not him, so he will do all that he can to stay friends with her and her soon to be husband because he can't lose his best friend.
I was bummed that neither Esme or Hunter had previously declared their feelings to each other. They have waited until they are well into their 20s and dating and getting engaged. Yes if they had already known each other's feelings then we wouldn't have the storyline for this book so I can't be too bummed out about that.
Esme was a take charge and get er done kinda gal and Hunter was a step in and help in any way kinda guy. Jon was a I'm in charge and I'm the only one who's right kinda guy. I really liked how the author had Miss Pearl talk to these characters about their relationship choices. The whole thing with the cookies was fun (not going to spoil it here but it was seriously very cute).
Sometimes Esme was placed in a hard position between her bestest friend and her fiance. For all the guys she had dated it would be really hard to come into a relationship where the girl you like has a best friend who is a guy. That would be very hard to compete with.
Hunter was definitely my favorite character in this book. He was just awesome! I'm really trying not to spoil anything so whoever reads my review can pick up the book and enjoy discovering it for themselves. It was hard to not like Hunter and it was hard not to be frustrated with Esme about Hunter. But when he finally told her...yay!!! I was cheering for him. Awkward situation for sure but I was still cheering for him!
It was interesting watching Hunter and Esme's relationship change and develop even more throughout the book in the different transitions they went through. I loved the epilogue lots. I want to say more about the epilogue but if I start talking about the things I liked about it then it will spoil it and I just can't do that. So if you get the chance pick this one up and see what you think.
As far as content there is a character in a relationship with a very controlling person and it ends in a gun situation. Nothing graphic. Hunter works with youth in social services and there is some talk about what some youth experience, again nothing graphic. Some fighting, mostly at a boxing club. Overall I would say it was well written and no sexual scenes. Jon is a plastic surgeon who works does plastic surgery on breasts so there is some talk about that. I can't remember about language specifically because it's been a few days since reading it but I don't remember anything that made me cringe or repeated swear words. My tired brain is thinking that there was some very mild innuendos but overall I would say that it was a clean read. I would recommend for mature YAs and older.
I received a copy from ebooks in exchange for my honest review.
Happy Reading!!!
This is my first Sheralyn Pratt book and I will be checking out other books by her, especially The Kiss that Launched 1,000 Gifs. There was an excerpt for that at the end of the book and I was hooked. Grace and Ash, who are the main characters in that one make several appearances in this one so I was definitely excited to see that there was a full novel on those two. Yay!
Overall I really liked this story. There were a couple moments that Esme drove me crazy or that Hunter would drive me crazy, or I just wanted to smack Jon...ok I don't smack anybody really but sometimes these book characters just make me mad. Grrrrrrrrr. I bet you know that I don't like Jon now right? Yeah, I don't like Jon. Not at all. There are times at the beginning that I thought I might like him and it would be hard for me to know which guy to root for for Esme but nope I decided who I wanted pretty fast.
Ok I'm writing my review with the assumption that everyone has read the synopsis, in case not...Esme and Hunter have been bestest friends since babies and Esme gets engaged to someone else. Hunter tries to be the awesome supportive friend but really is struggling because he loves Esme and has from when he was little. But she's chosen someone else, and it's not him, so he will do all that he can to stay friends with her and her soon to be husband because he can't lose his best friend.
I was bummed that neither Esme or Hunter had previously declared their feelings to each other. They have waited until they are well into their 20s and dating and getting engaged. Yes if they had already known each other's feelings then we wouldn't have the storyline for this book so I can't be too bummed out about that.
Esme was a take charge and get er done kinda gal and Hunter was a step in and help in any way kinda guy. Jon was a I'm in charge and I'm the only one who's right kinda guy. I really liked how the author had Miss Pearl talk to these characters about their relationship choices. The whole thing with the cookies was fun (not going to spoil it here but it was seriously very cute).
Sometimes Esme was placed in a hard position between her bestest friend and her fiance. For all the guys she had dated it would be really hard to come into a relationship where the girl you like has a best friend who is a guy. That would be very hard to compete with.
Hunter was definitely my favorite character in this book. He was just awesome! I'm really trying not to spoil anything so whoever reads my review can pick up the book and enjoy discovering it for themselves. It was hard to not like Hunter and it was hard not to be frustrated with Esme about Hunter. But when he finally told her...yay!!! I was cheering for him. Awkward situation for sure but I was still cheering for him!
It was interesting watching Hunter and Esme's relationship change and develop even more throughout the book in the different transitions they went through. I loved the epilogue lots. I want to say more about the epilogue but if I start talking about the things I liked about it then it will spoil it and I just can't do that. So if you get the chance pick this one up and see what you think.
As far as content there is a character in a relationship with a very controlling person and it ends in a gun situation. Nothing graphic. Hunter works with youth in social services and there is some talk about what some youth experience, again nothing graphic. Some fighting, mostly at a boxing club. Overall I would say it was well written and no sexual scenes. Jon is a plastic surgeon who works does plastic surgery on breasts so there is some talk about that. I can't remember about language specifically because it's been a few days since reading it but I don't remember anything that made me cringe or repeated swear words. My tired brain is thinking that there was some very mild innuendos but overall I would say that it was a clean read. I would recommend for mature YAs and older.
I received a copy from ebooks in exchange for my honest review.
Happy Reading!!!
January 17, 2018
This is part of the Power of the Matchmaker series but they're all written to be standalone books with Miss Pearl being the only common character in all of the books.
Esme Taylor and Hunter are BEST friends. Their moms were friends while pregnant and they continued the friendship after their children were born and as they grew up. Esme and Hunter don't remember not being together, the families are super close and share holidays together. Esme says she and Hunter are like brother and sister, and says that they've never dated or even kissed each other romantically.
Esme thinks Jon is her perfect mate (they agree on everything and haven't had one argument the whole time they've been dating), so when he unexpectedly proposes after only 6 months of dating she accepts. Hunter hasn't met Jon yet, but meets him at a celebratory engagement dinner Esme's parents give at their home to which Hunter and his parents are invited. Hunter being the only one there without a partner. Hunter isn't impressed with Jon, and Jon takes an immediate dislike to Hunter. After the dinner party Jon asks Esme to limit the time she spends with Hunter which includes talking on the phone, texting and emailing him. Esme tries to be understanding and complies but it isn't enough to satisfy Jon's insecurities about her relationship with Hunter, and he tries to get her to cut Hunter out of her life completely.
I love Miss Pearl's role in this book. She has a cookie cart, Miss Pearl's Kissing Cookies, by the pond at the Palace of Fine Arts. The cost of the cookies is a kiss because "kiss is final ingredient". When Esme and Jon get a cookie after he proposes they're both disappointed in the taste, but when she meets Hunter there the next day to tell him about her engagement Miss Pearl gets them to "try new cookie" and they both agree it's the best cookie they've ever had.
I loved this book, and I couldn't stop reading it once I started. I loved Esme and Hunter's best friend relationship and the bond Esme and Grace shared as best girlfriends. Esme needed a girlfriend like Grace to be straightforward with her about her relationship with Jon. I liked when Grace pointed out that too much predictability in a relationship could be boring. I loved Hunter--I mean he's a sexy fireman--but he was also a terrific friend and helped out disadvantaged kids at his boxing gym.
I didn't really like Jon from the beginning and once he started in trying to get Esme to spend less time with Hunter--not being able to call, text or email him--the red flag was flying high for me. We find out later that Jon could tell, by the way that Hunter looked at Esme, that he was in love with her, but Jon gave into his insecurities and decided not to believe Hunter when he told him he didn't have anything to worry about, he just wanted Esme to be happy. Jon also basically called Esme a liar when she told him she and Hunter hadn't dated or even kissed as kids or teenagers. That's one way to kill an engagement. (happy dance)
Esme is a smart woman so I was surprised that she would go along with Jon uninviting her lifelong best friend from all the wedding parties. She was understandably upset that he went behind her back and talked to Hunter, and she let him know that after the engagement party, but if that I been me I would've ended the engagement right there. No one tells me who I can be friends with.
I liked when Grace and her husband ran in to Hunter while he was on the beach and Grace gave him some great advice on what to do now that Esme was completely out of his life. At least Esme found out what Jon was really like when she had to go out of town for work and ended up being away for several weeks. I thought Jon came across as pretty self-centered. He didn't really care about Esme's friends or her job--he didn't really know what her work entailed, and all he had to do was ask her and listen to her explanation. I loved how Jon underestimated Hunter at their engagement party. Who uninvites your fiancee's best friend to all the future wedding parties and basically says don't show up at the wedding, BEFORE he's giving the toast?! A selfish, self-serving jerk that's who. I loved when Esme finally opened her eyes that Hunter loved her and she loved him.
This is my third book by Sheralyn Pratt and I've thoroughly enjoyed them all, so she's basically a must read author for me now.
Esme Taylor and Hunter are BEST friends. Their moms were friends while pregnant and they continued the friendship after their children were born and as they grew up. Esme and Hunter don't remember not being together, the families are super close and share holidays together. Esme says she and Hunter are like brother and sister, and says that they've never dated or even kissed each other romantically.
Esme thinks Jon is her perfect mate (they agree on everything and haven't had one argument the whole time they've been dating), so when he unexpectedly proposes after only 6 months of dating she accepts. Hunter hasn't met Jon yet, but meets him at a celebratory engagement dinner Esme's parents give at their home to which Hunter and his parents are invited. Hunter being the only one there without a partner. Hunter isn't impressed with Jon, and Jon takes an immediate dislike to Hunter. After the dinner party Jon asks Esme to limit the time she spends with Hunter which includes talking on the phone, texting and emailing him. Esme tries to be understanding and complies but it isn't enough to satisfy Jon's insecurities about her relationship with Hunter, and he tries to get her to cut Hunter out of her life completely.
I love Miss Pearl's role in this book. She has a cookie cart, Miss Pearl's Kissing Cookies, by the pond at the Palace of Fine Arts. The cost of the cookies is a kiss because "kiss is final ingredient". When Esme and Jon get a cookie after he proposes they're both disappointed in the taste, but when she meets Hunter there the next day to tell him about her engagement Miss Pearl gets them to "try new cookie" and they both agree it's the best cookie they've ever had.
I loved this book, and I couldn't stop reading it once I started. I loved Esme and Hunter's best friend relationship and the bond Esme and Grace shared as best girlfriends. Esme needed a girlfriend like Grace to be straightforward with her about her relationship with Jon. I liked when Grace pointed out that too much predictability in a relationship could be boring. I loved Hunter--I mean he's a sexy fireman--but he was also a terrific friend and helped out disadvantaged kids at his boxing gym.
I didn't really like Jon from the beginning and once he started in trying to get Esme to spend less time with Hunter--not being able to call, text or email him--the red flag was flying high for me. We find out later that Jon could tell, by the way that Hunter looked at Esme, that he was in love with her, but Jon gave into his insecurities and decided not to believe Hunter when he told him he didn't have anything to worry about, he just wanted Esme to be happy. Jon also basically called Esme a liar when she told him she and Hunter hadn't dated or even kissed as kids or teenagers. That's one way to kill an engagement. (happy dance)
Esme is a smart woman so I was surprised that she would go along with Jon uninviting her lifelong best friend from all the wedding parties. She was understandably upset that he went behind her back and talked to Hunter, and she let him know that after the engagement party, but if that I been me I would've ended the engagement right there. No one tells me who I can be friends with.
I liked when Grace and her husband ran in to Hunter while he was on the beach and Grace gave him some great advice on what to do now that Esme was completely out of his life. At least Esme found out what Jon was really like when she had to go out of town for work and ended up being away for several weeks. I thought Jon came across as pretty self-centered. He didn't really care about Esme's friends or her job--he didn't really know what her work entailed, and all he had to do was ask her and listen to her explanation. I loved how Jon underestimated Hunter at their engagement party. Who uninvites your fiancee's best friend to all the future wedding parties and basically says don't show up at the wedding, BEFORE he's giving the toast?! A selfish, self-serving jerk that's who. I loved when Esme finally opened her eyes that Hunter loved her and she loved him.
This is my third book by Sheralyn Pratt and I've thoroughly enjoyed them all, so she's basically a must read author for me now.
September 18, 2016
King of the Friend Zone
Sheralyn Pratt
Review copy received for an honest review.
KING OF THE FRIEND ZONE by Sheralyn Pratt is impossible to put down. Once I started I could not stop. Sheralyn Pratt grabs you from the very first page and never lets you go. I've never read any other books by this terrific author but she is now in my top ten of must read authors. I can not wait to get caught up on her previous stories and lose myself like I did with KING OF THE FRIEND ZONE all over again.
Esme Taylor is Grace's best friend. Grace is the main character from The Kiss That Launched 1,000 Gifs, but all the books in this series can be read as stand alones and in any order. Hunter is also Esme's best friend and always tries to be there for her. Imagine his surprise when Esme announces that she is engaged to her fiancé Jon, whom Hunter has never met. You see, Hunter has been in love with Esme for years but never let his feelings be known for fear of losing her friendship if Esme didn't feel the same way. They have been friends since they were very very young. I was rooting for Hunter the whole time I was reading KING OF THE FRIEND ZONE and found Jon to be too controlling and well, a jerk!
I really enjoyed BETWEEN HEAVEN AND EARTH. It is part of The Matchmakers series which is a twelve book series all written by various authors. Miss Pearl is the matchmaker and she travels around the world matching one couple at a time that have no idea how to find their true love. Pearl was so funny in this story and she had me giggling quite a lot. I'm so excited to read more of this series. Sheralyn Pratt did a wonderful job with this story and she hooked me and pulled me in from the very first page. I'm excited to continue this series as well as find more of Ms. Pratt's books and get them read.
Sheralyn Pratt
Review copy received for an honest review.
KING OF THE FRIEND ZONE by Sheralyn Pratt is impossible to put down. Once I started I could not stop. Sheralyn Pratt grabs you from the very first page and never lets you go. I've never read any other books by this terrific author but she is now in my top ten of must read authors. I can not wait to get caught up on her previous stories and lose myself like I did with KING OF THE FRIEND ZONE all over again.
Esme Taylor is Grace's best friend. Grace is the main character from The Kiss That Launched 1,000 Gifs, but all the books in this series can be read as stand alones and in any order. Hunter is also Esme's best friend and always tries to be there for her. Imagine his surprise when Esme announces that she is engaged to her fiancé Jon, whom Hunter has never met. You see, Hunter has been in love with Esme for years but never let his feelings be known for fear of losing her friendship if Esme didn't feel the same way. They have been friends since they were very very young. I was rooting for Hunter the whole time I was reading KING OF THE FRIEND ZONE and found Jon to be too controlling and well, a jerk!
I really enjoyed BETWEEN HEAVEN AND EARTH. It is part of The Matchmakers series which is a twelve book series all written by various authors. Miss Pearl is the matchmaker and she travels around the world matching one couple at a time that have no idea how to find their true love. Pearl was so funny in this story and she had me giggling quite a lot. I'm so excited to read more of this series. Sheralyn Pratt did a wonderful job with this story and she hooked me and pulled me in from the very first page. I'm excited to continue this series as well as find more of Ms. Pratt's books and get them read.
March 20, 2018
Esme’s life is almost perfect when her boyfriend of 6 months, Jon, proposes to her. She now has the perfect fiancé and the perfect best friend, Hunter. But now it’s time to introduce her fiancé to her best friend, and Jon immediately sees what Esme has never been able to see: That Hunter is in love with her. Hunter has never intended to pursue Esme because she’s so smart and prefers dating doctors; Hunter has always struggled with dyslexia and he is a fireman. So not her type. But everything is about to change when things get bad enough that Hunter has nothing to lose, and a mysterious Chinese lady who sells kissing cookies encourages him to see things differently.
Hunter and Esme were such great characters – it was easy to love them both and cheer them on! I loved that Grace and Ash from her book “The Kiss That Launched 1,000 Gifs” are in this book, too. I hope we get more books in this series (like Luke’s story)…
This book is part of the Matchmaker series, but all books in this series are standalones…
Content: Clean
Rating: 5 stars
Source: Review Copy (opinion is 100% my own)
Hunter and Esme were such great characters – it was easy to love them both and cheer them on! I loved that Grace and Ash from her book “The Kiss That Launched 1,000 Gifs” are in this book, too. I hope we get more books in this series (like Luke’s story)…
This book is part of the Matchmaker series, but all books in this series are standalones…
Content: Clean
Rating: 5 stars
Source: Review Copy (opinion is 100% my own)
September 30, 2016
My first Sheralyn Pratt book and I loved it! Esme and Hunter are great characters, and although I wanted Jon to be more of a villain, he was a great character too. I also loved Miss Pearl's appearance in this story as a cookie vendor. Sorry there's not a lot of depth to this review, but KING OF THE FRIEND ZONE is a fun and fast read. You won't be able to put it down!
September 29, 2016
This was a cute twist of the friend to lover’s trope! The chemistry was perfect. I liked how they showed flaws in the characters that affected what they do with their lives. And of course, I always enjoy seeing Ms Pearl! She just brings it all together with her words of wisdom!
When Jon proposes to Esme in her favorite place, Esme accepts. It was a little fast and she hasn’t yet introduced him to her family and her best friends Grace and Hunter. Jon doesn’t like Hunter and gets Esme to pretty much not have any contact with him ever again. When he explains why to Esme, she can see his point. Jon however never sees Esme’s point. In fact, I don’t like him at all. He gives me the creeps. But Esme is a crisis management PR person and yet she doesn’t know what to do without Hunter in her life. She has known him since before she could talk. They text every day and she competes with him on their fit bit. Esme also keeps track of the calls Hunter goes on as a firefighter. Without him, things don’t go as well.
Hunter has always loved Esme but never acted on it in fear of losing his friendship with her. So when at her engagement party Hunter toasts to them with his hurt ego, he lets it out that he has always loved her and chose him. Then he leaves and cuts off all communication with her. It’s a total mess after that.
Miss Pearl has many aha moments in this book. They are always enlightening and sometimes profound.
If you like Crisis management, helping out foster kids, being a hero, dyslexia, very little description of gun violence, taking the leap and loving someone, boxing, firemen, then this might be for you!
When Jon proposes to Esme in her favorite place, Esme accepts. It was a little fast and she hasn’t yet introduced him to her family and her best friends Grace and Hunter. Jon doesn’t like Hunter and gets Esme to pretty much not have any contact with him ever again. When he explains why to Esme, she can see his point. Jon however never sees Esme’s point. In fact, I don’t like him at all. He gives me the creeps. But Esme is a crisis management PR person and yet she doesn’t know what to do without Hunter in her life. She has known him since before she could talk. They text every day and she competes with him on their fit bit. Esme also keeps track of the calls Hunter goes on as a firefighter. Without him, things don’t go as well.
Hunter has always loved Esme but never acted on it in fear of losing his friendship with her. So when at her engagement party Hunter toasts to them with his hurt ego, he lets it out that he has always loved her and chose him. Then he leaves and cuts off all communication with her. It’s a total mess after that.
Miss Pearl has many aha moments in this book. They are always enlightening and sometimes profound.
If you like Crisis management, helping out foster kids, being a hero, dyslexia, very little description of gun violence, taking the leap and loving someone, boxing, firemen, then this might be for you!
September 8, 2016
Fun clean romance. The heroine was a little frustrating, but I enjoyed the friendship between the two MCs and their respect for each other. This one didn't have the wow factor that Pimpernel had, but still a good read.
July 31, 2017
Had to take a star off for some content, but other than that I couldn't put it down. Love our Miss Pearl Matchmaker and have enjoyed reading the books in this series.
Esme & Hunter are great characters and I loved the story! Good stuff.
Moral Note: Some mild language (d-bag, a$$) Some talk of breasts (Jon is a plastic surgeon) some innuendos. Mild violence.
Esme & Hunter are great characters and I loved the story! Good stuff.
Moral Note: Some mild language (d-bag, a$$) Some talk of breasts (Jon is a plastic surgeon) some innuendos. Mild violence.
September 29, 2016
3 1/2 stars
This is the 9th book in the Power of the Matchmaker series and I think I like the portrayal of Miss. Pearl the best in this book. :) She's selling cookies for a kiss. If the one you kiss is someone you truly love (whether it's boyfriend/girlfriend, spouses, parent/child), the cookies taste divine. If the one you kiss is not a true love the cookies are bland. Loved it! :)
For the most part, I enjoyed this well written story about best friends who have known each other all their lives and are now struggling with her engagement to another man. Esme has tried in the past (grade school, high school, college) to push Hunter into "liking" her but when he didn't respond she moved on to looking for and finding her Prince Charming. And although Hunter secretly loves her, he has not been willing to risk losing her friendship to chance starting a relationship with her.
When Esme breaks the news to Hunter of her engagement, he is not thrilled but he is willing to be nice if this is what will make her happy. However, (my opinion gets fierce here people...lol) Jon, Esme's fiance and total jerkface, demands that she cut off all communication and friendship with Hunter. I mean, really?!! Their families are joined at the hip and they have grown up together! You can't just cut someone like that out of your life! I didn't like Jon, can you tell? Although she's not thrilled, Jon makes a point she can't argue with so she agrees for the time being. However, she's not dumb and Jon's attitude and following actions start to show some character flaws that she has to decide if she can live with.
Hunter, on the other hand, is a pretty great guy. He has his flaws, of course, but he's honorable enough to abide by Esme's wishes. He's also a great fireman and he works with and mentors delinquent boys at a gym. After several weeks of non-communication with Esme, he's back at the park where Miss Pearl is selling cookies and she gives him some good advice. Will he follow through and claim his true love before it's too late?
Although the story was well written and kept my attention, there was definitely some content that kept it from being rated higher from my viewpoint. As noted above, in the description of the book (which I didn't have when I agreed to review the book), this is a mainstream book. Consequently, this book does not have Christian values. There are several mentions of drinking, one mention of giving the finger and some language. Also, because Jon is a plastic surgeon dealing with breasts, there is some innuendo about breasts. Jon also, at one point, mentions something to Esme about texting him pictures while she's out of town (innuendo is sexual). She's appalled, by the way - point for her, strike for Jon. For these reasons, I wouldn't recommend this book for someone wanting a clean read. For those who don't mind, it's a well written story. Personally, I will not be reading any more by this author.
*Thanks to eBooksForReview for a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are my own. *
This is the 9th book in the Power of the Matchmaker series and I think I like the portrayal of Miss. Pearl the best in this book. :) She's selling cookies for a kiss. If the one you kiss is someone you truly love (whether it's boyfriend/girlfriend, spouses, parent/child), the cookies taste divine. If the one you kiss is not a true love the cookies are bland. Loved it! :)
For the most part, I enjoyed this well written story about best friends who have known each other all their lives and are now struggling with her engagement to another man. Esme has tried in the past (grade school, high school, college) to push Hunter into "liking" her but when he didn't respond she moved on to looking for and finding her Prince Charming. And although Hunter secretly loves her, he has not been willing to risk losing her friendship to chance starting a relationship with her.
When Esme breaks the news to Hunter of her engagement, he is not thrilled but he is willing to be nice if this is what will make her happy. However, (my opinion gets fierce here people...lol) Jon, Esme's fiance and total jerkface, demands that she cut off all communication and friendship with Hunter. I mean, really?!! Their families are joined at the hip and they have grown up together! You can't just cut someone like that out of your life! I didn't like Jon, can you tell? Although she's not thrilled, Jon makes a point she can't argue with so she agrees for the time being. However, she's not dumb and Jon's attitude and following actions start to show some character flaws that she has to decide if she can live with.
Hunter, on the other hand, is a pretty great guy. He has his flaws, of course, but he's honorable enough to abide by Esme's wishes. He's also a great fireman and he works with and mentors delinquent boys at a gym. After several weeks of non-communication with Esme, he's back at the park where Miss Pearl is selling cookies and she gives him some good advice. Will he follow through and claim his true love before it's too late?
Although the story was well written and kept my attention, there was definitely some content that kept it from being rated higher from my viewpoint. As noted above, in the description of the book (which I didn't have when I agreed to review the book), this is a mainstream book. Consequently, this book does not have Christian values. There are several mentions of drinking, one mention of giving the finger and some language. Also, because Jon is a plastic surgeon dealing with breasts, there is some innuendo about breasts. Jon also, at one point, mentions something to Esme about texting him pictures while she's out of town (innuendo is sexual). She's appalled, by the way - point for her, strike for Jon. For these reasons, I wouldn't recommend this book for someone wanting a clean read. For those who don't mind, it's a well written story. Personally, I will not be reading any more by this author.
*Thanks to eBooksForReview for a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are my own. *
October 25, 2016
Romance, clean, contemporary, some drinking (for my teetotaling friends)
This was a great read! Another good read in the Power of the Matchmaker Series. I loved Hunter and Esme's story. I list Hunter's name first, because Sheralyn Pratt described him so well, I felt like I 'knew' him, knew his heart, and understood his frustrations. Esme was a great character. Her mixed emotions, her struggle to accept and finally come to 'see' Hunter for who he was.
In a way, I love that 'he' is pictured on the cover of the novel. He really is the one who I was more attracted to as a character, his frustrations, feelings, worries, trying to be a friend, all the while harboring his deep feelings for Esme, it was him who I felt was the one who this novel was truly about. I loved the parts with Pearl in them. I think I enjoyed SP characterization of her the best so far of any of the novels. The matchmaker could 'see' them for who they really were. The cookies were a cute touch. Love is sweet with the correct match, to our 'tastebuds' and our hearts.
Such a satisfying read!
I received a copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.
This was a great read! Another good read in the Power of the Matchmaker Series. I loved Hunter and Esme's story. I list Hunter's name first, because Sheralyn Pratt described him so well, I felt like I 'knew' him, knew his heart, and understood his frustrations. Esme was a great character. Her mixed emotions, her struggle to accept and finally come to 'see' Hunter for who he was.
In a way, I love that 'he' is pictured on the cover of the novel. He really is the one who I was more attracted to as a character, his frustrations, feelings, worries, trying to be a friend, all the while harboring his deep feelings for Esme, it was him who I felt was the one who this novel was truly about. I loved the parts with Pearl in them. I think I enjoyed SP characterization of her the best so far of any of the novels. The matchmaker could 'see' them for who they really were. The cookies were a cute touch. Love is sweet with the correct match, to our 'tastebuds' and our hearts.
Such a satisfying read!
I received a copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.
October 13, 2016
I enjoyed this book. I think of would of enjoyed it even more if she would of broken up with her fiancé sooner and we could of seen them dating more. Over-all enjoyed it!!
February 21, 2019
This was just ok for me. Esme kind of infuriated me about half the time. I liked Hunter a little more, but he was a bit of a hothead, so I didn't love him as much I had hoped for. The whole magic cookie lady thing was a bit odd. This book has been on my TBR for quite a while, so I'm glad I read it, but it's not one I would be interested in reading again.
September 10, 2016
King of the Friend Zone is the first book I've read by this author, and it was such a fun, quick read. I finished in two nights! So...Esme and Hunter have been best friends for all their lives, growing up together, hanging together, teasing each other, a BFF relationship with zero romance along the way, a deep connection that not everyone understands. One such person who misunderstands is Esme's new fiance, Jon. Then again, maybe he understands what Esme refuses to see, that Hunter is head over heels for Esme.
Hunter is awesome - such a guy's guy! He's a fireman who works out all the time, hangs with the boys, calls 'em like he sees 'em, and has no problem catching every woman's eye...with the exception of Esme, the one woman he wants. But what's so great about Hunter is he's willing to step back and keep his heart ziplocked if it means Esme's happiness. Aw. But it was also frustrating because dude, that's a big secret to keep forever without ever exploring the possibilities. Still, I understood why he did it. It's TOUGH going from friends to lovers and then back to friends, and he'd prefer to keep his friend rather than risk loving her and losing her.
Until Jon puts the kibosh on Esme's and Hunter's lifelong friendship. What a douchebag. All the characters kept saying how nice Jon was, but he seriously wasn't, and the fact that Esme allowed him to affect her friendship with Hunter is what took the book down from a five star for me. She comes across as strong and sassy in every other area of her life, then lets her fiance/boyfriend of six months damage her relationship with Hunter, her best friend from day one. It just didn't ring true for me. I could see that it would cause some tension, but to just diminish such a deep friendship for a guy you've known for six months? I don't think so.
But besides that little quibble, it was a great read for me. I chuckled out loud a few times, and there's a matchmaker cookie lady! She was awesome, and it looks like she makes appearances in the rest of the books, which I love. All the secondary characters were great and made me want to read their stories too. If you're looking for a cute, quick read with sweet romance and cookies with special love ingredients, check out King of the Friend Zone!
Hunter is awesome - such a guy's guy! He's a fireman who works out all the time, hangs with the boys, calls 'em like he sees 'em, and has no problem catching every woman's eye...with the exception of Esme, the one woman he wants. But what's so great about Hunter is he's willing to step back and keep his heart ziplocked if it means Esme's happiness. Aw. But it was also frustrating because dude, that's a big secret to keep forever without ever exploring the possibilities. Still, I understood why he did it. It's TOUGH going from friends to lovers and then back to friends, and he'd prefer to keep his friend rather than risk loving her and losing her.
Until Jon puts the kibosh on Esme's and Hunter's lifelong friendship. What a douchebag. All the characters kept saying how nice Jon was, but he seriously wasn't, and the fact that Esme allowed him to affect her friendship with Hunter is what took the book down from a five star for me. She comes across as strong and sassy in every other area of her life, then lets her fiance/boyfriend of six months damage her relationship with Hunter, her best friend from day one. It just didn't ring true for me. I could see that it would cause some tension, but to just diminish such a deep friendship for a guy you've known for six months? I don't think so.
But besides that little quibble, it was a great read for me. I chuckled out loud a few times, and there's a matchmaker cookie lady! She was awesome, and it looks like she makes appearances in the rest of the books, which I love. All the secondary characters were great and made me want to read their stories too. If you're looking for a cute, quick read with sweet romance and cookies with special love ingredients, check out King of the Friend Zone!
February 22, 2017
Esme and Hunter’s mothers are best friends and as such they were pretty much brought up together like family. In turn Esme and Hunter are best friends too and they are like peas in a pod. So when Esme turns up to announce that she is engaged to Jon, a man Hunter had never met, it was bit of a surprise for everyone around them. When Hunter and Jon meet things go the wrong way and neither of them approves of the other. But things turn for the worse when Jon, who thinks Hunter is in love with her, asks Esme to stay away from Hunter and she agrees. The truth is that Hunter IS in love with Esme but he never fessed up because of his insecurities and the fact that he wasn’t ready to risk his friendship with her. The question is whether Esme and Hunter love each other enough to risk everything and find their way to each other?
I liked the two lead characters – Esme & Hunter. Esme infuriated me for most part because of her relationship/dynamics with Jon. The whole relationship seemed instable to me given how little they knew about each other when they got engaged. Plus I really did not like Jon’s attitude towards Esme’s career either. However, she does redeem herself when she holds her own not only with Jon but also with Hunter. Hunter on the other hand creeps into the readers’ heart from the very beginning as we know exactly how much he loves Esme. Also, it doesn’t hurt that he is hot and witty as well. The additional characters in the book are also quite great. The whole family and friend circle is tightly knit and they always cover each other’s back. You cannot help but love them all. The author has also done a great job in keeping the language simple and the flow of the story smooth. It was pretty easy to get into the story once Esme and Hunter’s camaraderie sets in with the readers.
I have one problem with the book though. I didn’t buy the ‘old Asian lady with magic cookies’ thing at all. While the rest of the book was pretty much acceptable, the presence of the ‘magical element’ just felt off and out of place to me. But overall, this is a nice and clean romance that turned out to be more enjoyable than I expected.
I liked the two lead characters – Esme & Hunter. Esme infuriated me for most part because of her relationship/dynamics with Jon. The whole relationship seemed instable to me given how little they knew about each other when they got engaged. Plus I really did not like Jon’s attitude towards Esme’s career either. However, she does redeem herself when she holds her own not only with Jon but also with Hunter. Hunter on the other hand creeps into the readers’ heart from the very beginning as we know exactly how much he loves Esme. Also, it doesn’t hurt that he is hot and witty as well. The additional characters in the book are also quite great. The whole family and friend circle is tightly knit and they always cover each other’s back. You cannot help but love them all. The author has also done a great job in keeping the language simple and the flow of the story smooth. It was pretty easy to get into the story once Esme and Hunter’s camaraderie sets in with the readers.
I have one problem with the book though. I didn’t buy the ‘old Asian lady with magic cookies’ thing at all. While the rest of the book was pretty much acceptable, the presence of the ‘magical element’ just felt off and out of place to me. But overall, this is a nice and clean romance that turned out to be more enjoyable than I expected.
February 3, 2017
Esme and Hunter have known each other since birth. They have grown up together and are best friends. Now Esme is engaged, and her fiancé doesn’t want Hunter around.
King of the Friend Zone is the ninth book in the Power of the Matchmaker series. This is a great series! Each book stands alone, but features Miss Pearl, the matchmaker. I loved Miss Pearl’s role in this story! She has a cookie cart, and sells cookies to couples for a kiss. That kiss is the final ingredient, and the most important in the taste of the cookie. I would love to try a cookie with my husband! Trust me. It would be delicious!!
Esme and Hunter had such a fun relationship! I loved their banter and the way they interacted. They knew each other so well! They really supported and believed in each other. Then Jon came along. He really handled things poorly. I was so frustrated with Esme sometimes and I felt so bad for Hunter! Thankfully, they both had some other great friends to help them. And, of course, Miss Pearl was there too.
This is the first story I’ve read by Sheralyn Pratt. I loved it! I’m really looking forward to reading more of her work!
I was given a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
King of the Friend Zone is the ninth book in the Power of the Matchmaker series. This is a great series! Each book stands alone, but features Miss Pearl, the matchmaker. I loved Miss Pearl’s role in this story! She has a cookie cart, and sells cookies to couples for a kiss. That kiss is the final ingredient, and the most important in the taste of the cookie. I would love to try a cookie with my husband! Trust me. It would be delicious!!
Esme and Hunter had such a fun relationship! I loved their banter and the way they interacted. They knew each other so well! They really supported and believed in each other. Then Jon came along. He really handled things poorly. I was so frustrated with Esme sometimes and I felt so bad for Hunter! Thankfully, they both had some other great friends to help them. And, of course, Miss Pearl was there too.
This is the first story I’ve read by Sheralyn Pratt. I loved it! I’m really looking forward to reading more of her work!
I was given a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
September 30, 2016
Since I've read other books by this author, I knew once I started, I would have a hard time putting it down. I loved everything about this book! Esme is newly engaged but her fiance, Jon, hasn't met her best friend, Hunter, yet. And when they do meet, it isn't pretty.
Jon seemed great until I got to know Hunter. Hunter is easy to fall in love with. He's charming, funny, and not afraid to cause some drama. Esme is also easy to like. She's caught in a difficult spot and did her best to be fair to everyone involved. As I got to know them better, it was easy to see how they were in the friend zone, but I was cheering for them to see the light before it was too late. I absolutely loved the matchmaker, Miss Pearl, and her cookie cart was fantastic! There are lots of other fun characters as well, and we get to see Grace and Ash from "The Kiss that Launched 1,000 Gifs."
This is definitely one of my favorites in the matchmaker series! Again, these can be read on their own, but they are all great stories that are worth reading. If you love clean, contemporary romance and are looking for a book that you can't put down, this one fits the bill!
I received a copy of this book to review. My opinion is 100% my own.
Mel's Shelves
Jon seemed great until I got to know Hunter. Hunter is easy to fall in love with. He's charming, funny, and not afraid to cause some drama. Esme is also easy to like. She's caught in a difficult spot and did her best to be fair to everyone involved. As I got to know them better, it was easy to see how they were in the friend zone, but I was cheering for them to see the light before it was too late. I absolutely loved the matchmaker, Miss Pearl, and her cookie cart was fantastic! There are lots of other fun characters as well, and we get to see Grace and Ash from "The Kiss that Launched 1,000 Gifs."
This is definitely one of my favorites in the matchmaker series! Again, these can be read on their own, but they are all great stories that are worth reading. If you love clean, contemporary romance and are looking for a book that you can't put down, this one fits the bill!
I received a copy of this book to review. My opinion is 100% my own.
Mel's Shelves
September 5, 2016
This story is set in San Francisco and we are with Esme and her favorite city park, and perfect Jon knowing this, uses this background to ask for her hand in marriage. Jon is every girls dream, tall, dark and handsome, and also a very rich doctor.
Esme feels she has arrived and found just what she has been looking for, but when Jon starts changing his spots, can she adapt to what he wants.
Hunter and Emse were brought up together, mom’s are best friends and spent a lot of time together, and are still doing so. Hunter is tall, blond and also handsome, but Esme thinks of him as another brother, and Jon thinks of him as a threat, is he right, or are they like siblings.
As wedding looms will the two you are rooting for end up together, maybe, and again maybe not? Who is right in all of this, Jon can see what is happening, and is he right or just wanting to make sure he keeps Esme. We also see one of these two becoming abusive, one wants to maintain control and not let go.
This story will make you think, keep page turning, and wanting more.
I received this book through Inspired Kathy, and was not required to give a positive review.
Esme feels she has arrived and found just what she has been looking for, but when Jon starts changing his spots, can she adapt to what he wants.
Hunter and Emse were brought up together, mom’s are best friends and spent a lot of time together, and are still doing so. Hunter is tall, blond and also handsome, but Esme thinks of him as another brother, and Jon thinks of him as a threat, is he right, or are they like siblings.
As wedding looms will the two you are rooting for end up together, maybe, and again maybe not? Who is right in all of this, Jon can see what is happening, and is he right or just wanting to make sure he keeps Esme. We also see one of these two becoming abusive, one wants to maintain control and not let go.
This story will make you think, keep page turning, and wanting more.
I received this book through Inspired Kathy, and was not required to give a positive review.
September 23, 2016
I received this ebook through ebooksforreview in exchange for an honest review.
First off, if anyone has The Kiss That Launched 1,000 Gifs by the same author on their TBR pile, you might want to read it first. I hadn't even realized it was by the same author and haven't read The Kiss That Launched 1,000 Gifs, but at the end of the book their is a note mentioning that Grace and Ashton (supporting characters) are the ones from that previous book. So now I need to read it too!
As for King of the Friend Zone, it was a fun read. I loved Miss Pearl's cookie cart. She was so funny in this book and loved that side of her character. Esme and Hunter both had their fair share of heartache, but I was rooting for Hunter all along! Jon, on the other hand, I didn't like much. He tended to get on my nerves and only made me want to yell at Esme for not seeing the obvious. Oh and let's no forget Grace with all her advice :)
Overall, it was a great book. Sure it's a light read, but definitely worth the time!
First off, if anyone has The Kiss That Launched 1,000 Gifs by the same author on their TBR pile, you might want to read it first. I hadn't even realized it was by the same author and haven't read The Kiss That Launched 1,000 Gifs, but at the end of the book their is a note mentioning that Grace and Ashton (supporting characters) are the ones from that previous book. So now I need to read it too!
As for King of the Friend Zone, it was a fun read. I loved Miss Pearl's cookie cart. She was so funny in this book and loved that side of her character. Esme and Hunter both had their fair share of heartache, but I was rooting for Hunter all along! Jon, on the other hand, I didn't like much. He tended to get on my nerves and only made me want to yell at Esme for not seeing the obvious. Oh and let's no forget Grace with all her advice :)
Overall, it was a great book. Sure it's a light read, but definitely worth the time!
September 26, 2016
Honestly this book took me a while to get in to. I don't know if it was the book or my mood. Who knows?! But once I really got in the thick of the story, I really just wanted to see what would happen. This was part of the Power of the Matchmaker series, but as all the other books in the series, it can stand alone. Pearl, the matchmaker, appeared, as she does in every book in the series. She's just the cutest and I love how each author has had her do something different in their book.
I loved Hunter. Man, doesn't everyone want a guy friend as amazing as him? Hot, protective, and not trying to bust a move on you??!! Esme, eh. She irritated me for about 3/4 of the book, but redeemed herself by the end. Jon was a creepy-creeperton and I didn't like him one bit. And the epilogue... I'm not gonna lie- I cried. That's not surprising to anyone who knows me, but still. :)
Not my favorite in the series, but still definitely worth the read! :)
*I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.
I loved Hunter. Man, doesn't everyone want a guy friend as amazing as him? Hot, protective, and not trying to bust a move on you??!! Esme, eh. She irritated me for about 3/4 of the book, but redeemed herself by the end. Jon was a creepy-creeperton and I didn't like him one bit. And the epilogue... I'm not gonna lie- I cried. That's not surprising to anyone who knows me, but still. :)
Not my favorite in the series, but still definitely worth the read! :)
*I was given this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 10, 2016
I want cookies lady too.
Think about if it cut it shortly, then it will be 4 stars. Both were in love for a long long time, they afraid if they voice out their relationship will break.
We did make the wrong choice in love because we afraid being alone. Sometime lonely is better than wrong accompany. It is a good one and fit for weekend read.
Think about if it cut it shortly, then it will be 4 stars. Both were in love for a long long time, they afraid if they voice out their relationship will break.
We did make the wrong choice in love because we afraid being alone. Sometime lonely is better than wrong accompany. It is a good one and fit for weekend read.
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