Tara Bonander’s life is always derailing, but never like this. In the past 24 hours, she’s lost her job, her New York apartment, and her fiancé. Now, when her life is at an all time low, she’s due to spend the weekend as a lonely bachelorette bridesmaid with her newly engaged sister Scarlet. She’ll do anything to find a date.
Celebrity photographer Bill Blakely needs a big payday, the kind that a photo of the Runaway Bride would net him. But his only lead on the wedding is the bride’s cousin, Tara Bonander, who occasionally has drinks at a bar in his neighborhood. When Tara asks Bill over drinks to be her date for a weekend wedding, it’s a gift. She wants him to pretend to be her boyfriend. He wants to pretend he’s only in it for the money. Can one uptown heiress fall for a paparazzi from the gutter? Or will reality take down this fake romance along with the Runaway Bride’s wedding?
Prior to writing romance, award-winning, USA Today Bestseller Melinda Curtis was a junior manager for a Fortune 500 company, which meant when she flew on the private jet she was relegated to the jump seat—otherwise known as the potty. After grabbing her pen (and a parachute) she made the jump to full-time writer. Between writing sweet romance and sweet romantic comedy, Melinda finds time to bond with her husband over home remodeling projects. She recently came to grips with the fact that she’s an empty nester and a grandma, concepts easier to grasp than jet-setting on a potty.
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This was such a cute series. They’re really fast reads & light hearted. This book wasn’t my fav so I’m giving it 3.5 stars. The second book is hands down my absolute fav
This was an ok read but as the final book in the series it was a letdown. I'd really enjoyed the previous ones but this story just didn't have the same energy or the same romantic feel to it. An epilogue about all the couples and how they were doing would have been nice. The ending left me hanging. The author has a new series starting soon, so maybe references to the couples will be made in it, but I don't see myself rushing to start that series.
This book. There isn't a thing I can say I like about this book. Which sucks because this is the book synopsis that made me want to read the series.
It completely destroyed Tiff's book 1-4 character development.
It also made me hate almost every character from the last 4 books. With the exception of Nicole and Sean BUT I have a feeling that it's probably because they were barely in this book.
My rating range of this story... 2 - 3.5 Stars If significant, why? Way too much repetition, especially from the H!
Main Character Ratings... H = 5/10 h = 7/10
Narrator Rating(s) M = n/a F = 6/10 If below 5/10,why? I don't think the issue was the narrator but it almost sounded like it was recorded on a mono tape recorder.
Was cheating involved? No Any major triggers to be aware of? No
If Comedy... Type? Funny at times Genuinely Funny Cringe Inducing Just No!
Angst Level? Please Stop Light, Moderate, Heavy or Please Stop 3 Stars for me!
Internal Monolog? Please Stop!!!!! Light, Moderate, Heavy or Please Stop
Scenes with heat... Not really
Heat Rating... 1/10 Clean or Fade to Black - 1 or 2 Normal to Descriptive 3-5 Detailed Descriptive Sex - 6-7 Um, Wow, Beyond Descriptive Sex - 8 or above
The back story... This is the final story of the series where the MCs from The Wedding Promise are getting married. His dad is working against him as is the mother of the bride. The H, who owns a camera store and supplements his income as a paparazzi recognizes the h's sister as the runaway bride. He gets an invite to go as her date and plans to get photos from the inside so he can cover his delinquent bills on his store.
The Romance... Has taken place before the story starts as they've known each other for a while and builds while pretending to be her boyfriend.
The drama explosion... His initial plot is uncovered. Did it feel Real, OK or contrived? Contrived Was it OTT? Very Separation involved? Yes Was it resolved properly or rushed? Mostly properly
Final Notes... This story was just under 3 hours long and I estimate that 50% of it was angsty repetitive head babble. Once she finds out my duplicity... If she only knew my real agenda... Pretty much every section from the H was repetitive.
There was some in the previous stories but no where near this level. The ending drama points also felt like they were being forced instead of free flowing.
Did I like this series... Yes. I just wish that the last novella had been significantly less repetitive. The ending sequence was entertaining and the author had fun with it.
Bill and Tara are interesting, relatable, intriguing, fun, entertaining, complex characters. I enjoyed their romance and the twists and turns that it took. I wish we had gotten more from the ending than we did. The secondary characters added to the fabric of the story. I love that we got to see all of the couples from the previous books in the series and especially more of the couple from the first book. The story is easy to read and get into.
I enjoyed the audio version of this book and the narrator.
This series was fun to read and I like how the characters from books 1 to 5 were connected through this bon-bon chocolate business. I was looking forward for this last book to be the best among the 5, but it didn't give that long lasting impact for me. It was okay though, I like it better than The Wedding Promises and Rescued by a Bridesmaid.
My favorite book in the series is still You May Now Kiss the Bridesmaid!
Just maybe Tara could actually find love, just maybe her life could be better. Bill needs the money to pay for the fees to keep his grandpa where he needs to be but just maybe he likes Tara too much to do what he needs to. This is a love story with a fun twist, that will make you believe love can rule.
Probably my least favorite of the series. It's a cute little tale of deception via a celebrity tabloid photographer. But you get to see the other couples from the series and the wedding finally happens. So there is satisfaction in that! :) The romance felt rushed and jumbled with little build to desire or relationship.
Tara begins the story trying to drown out her sorrows in the Corner Bar. She's lost her job, her apartment, and boyfriend over the course of a week. Tara also has her cousin's wedding coming up and doesn't want to attend it alone. Tara is set to be a bridesmaid, again, for her cousin Tiffany. AKA....the runaway bride. Tiff has dumped numerous fiancées before and has quite the reputation. Since she's the Head of Bon Bon Chocolates, the paparazzi are always following her in hopes of getting the "infamous" shot that will line their pockets.
Bill knows that Tara will hate him if she ever finds out how he betrayed her, but he has to take the chance so he can pay for his grandpa's healthcare. Bill is already two months behind on his rent . Bill learned his love of photography from his grandpa, so he feels as though he owes him. Bill also runs his grandpa's camera store. So when Bill hears Tara needs a plus one for the wedding, he gladly volunteers.
As Tara and Bill spend time getting to know each other, they realize that they really LIKE each other. Bill "protects" Tara from her sister, encourages her to stop caring what others think, and makes her feel safe, loved. When Tara finds out that Bill is really paparazzi, she's livid. She thinks that she's the cause of Tiff's wedding being cancelled because she invited the "enemy" into their fold.
This was a sweet, enjoyable read. I enjoyed the family interaction as that's really how family are. I laughed at Tiff's untimely rash, twisted ankle, and wrong wedding dress. Every bride wants her wedding to be what they've always dreamed it could be, but Tiff's wasn't going as planned. She took that as a sign that maybe they shouldn't get married.....When she tells her fiancé, he is the one that runs!!! I highly recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys second chance romance. This is the fifth book in the series, does not end a cliffhanger, and has a HEA--or two. I read a gifted copy of this novel and all opinions stated are my own.
Tara Bonander is having a really bad day. She's lost her job, her apartment, and her boyfriend - all in a row. But, what worries her the most is none of those, it's spending the weekend at her cousin's wedding dateless that has her the most upset. So, she heads to her favorite bar to think through her problems when Bill shows up. Bill has been showing up for 6 months, but she's given up hope of him showing any interest in her. But, when someone suggests that she take Bill as her date . . . .
Bill Blakely makes his money with photography and he takes celebrity photos to help pay for his ailing grandfather's care. So, when he has a chance encounter with the Runaway Bride's cousin, he jumps at the opportunity to get to know her better because getting close to family might give him a chance to photograph the bride herself. Unfortunately, his conscience keeps getting in the way. The more he gets to know Tara, the better he likes her and the more guilty he feels over his plans to get a picture of the bride.
What follows is really a story within a story. On the surface, there's the story of Bill and Tara. It's a sweet story where they come to realize how attracted they are to each other. Of course, there's the big reveal, but I enjoyed reading how it happens. I also liked reading about how Bill struggled with the hard questions of personal priorities and honesty.
The secondary story is the continuation of Tiffany and Jackson's wedding plans. Will she actually get married? Will she run away again? Is their love strong enough to keep them together? All these questions are asked and answered.
This one isn't quite as funny as the others because there are more serious topics covered, but I still enjoyed it as much as the other stories.
What is worse than losing your job, apartment, and boyfriend all at once? Just ask Tara who has had a very bad day, one of the worse days of her life but she will tell you the only worse than this is spending a weekend at her cousin's wedding dateless! She decides to think over her troubles at her favorite bar when in walks Bill. She has been checking him out for the last 6 months if only he would show some interest in her it would make her day. Heck it would make her week. Just as she has given up hope her friends suggest she ask Bill to be her date at her cousins wedding. Bill who is photography and makes the much need money to pay for his grandfather’s care jumps at the chance to go with her to the wedding. This could be his big payday with a chance encounter with the Runaway Bride's cousin and a date to the wedding that could put him on the map.
The author gives you a story inside a story. The story of Bill and Tara really is so sweet with the attraction, the guilt over Bill using Tara it pulls on your heartstrings. Then you have Tiffany and Jackson's wedding plans. The big question is will she go through it this time or not. I really love watch the struggles these couples go through leaving us holding our breaths and on the edge. What a fun delightful read this was.
The author covers so much in a short space of time really entertaining her readers giving a heartfelt read covering some very serious issues but at the same time giving you a fun read. This was very well written pulling the reader in hooking you with her very talented writing style that we have come to love. She gives us wonderful characters that we cheer for as they go through some very tough times in their lives. I totally enjoyed this story with its wonderful twists and turns. *************************
“You don’t plan for love. Love is supposed to be spontaneous. One day you open a door and there he is-your Captain America.”
“Love doesn’t walk up to you and ask if it fits into your life. Love is like a shell game. It sneaks up on you from behind. It whispers in your ear. It says without any timelines and in no uncertain terms-this one and no one else.”
This was a cute story and you can’t go wrong with some fake dating, an over protective big sister, a runaway bride and the paparazzi. I enjoyed reading about Tara and Bill, they were so relatable and the connection they have is cute. I enjoyed how this story finally gave a bit of closer on Tiff and Jax and how all the stories in the series connected to first one. Overall a cute series.
This is last book in The Bridesmaid Series. A clean read, closed door novella series that is modern with a sense of black and white movies from the 1930’s and 1940’s. Hoping for a book to see if Shane gets his happy ending…maybe with Kitty.
Tara is Tiff's cousin and yes she has been a bridesmaid at each of her abandoned weddings. So when this time Tiff seems sure to get married, Tara has to be there. Only trouble is she has just lost her job, been dumped by her boyfriend and had to move out of her apartment coz she couldn't pay the rent. On top of that she really does not want to show up at the wedding without a date. Bill needs another celebrity photo to keep his grandpa in the care facility he is staying in. He needs a photo of the runaway bride, and can't believe Tara would actually invite him to the wedding. He cares for Tara, but does he care more about the money? Read this sweet tale to find out.
It's a good place to meet up with all the characters we've come to love through the series. What I really love is the fact that each character is so well defined you'd have no trouble recognizing them if you met them! The plot goes a little crazy with the paparazzi, but it would hardly be a celebrity wedding without some gatecrashers. I reviewed an advance reader copy of the book voluntarily.
I have really enjoyed this series so far. All the couples and just waiting to see if Tiff and Jackson get married has made this a fun series to read.
This involves Tara and Bill. Tara is the married in relation wo thinks she has something to prove to the Bonader family. And Bill is a photo2 who sells pictures to the tabloids to pay for his grandfathers care. But he doesn't enjoy it. And hates playing people. But he has to do what he has to do and if that means lying to Tara to get invited to the wedding or unwedding of the year then that's what he will do.
Tara is desperate for a date to the wedding. Her fiance dumped her and Bill fits the bill. But what she didn't expect were the fireworks between them. With the wedding falling apart right before their eyes secrets unravel between them that push them apart. 's they overcome things to help this wedding go on or will things be to far gone?? And will these two be able to come to terms with what's happened and make a lasting relationship? Loved this one!!!
I'm loving this romantic comedy series by Melinda Curtis! The Bridesmaid Wore White is the fifth book in this series. Tara Bonander's life couldn't get any worse after losing her job, apartment and fiance all in a twenty-four period. Now she just had to get through a destination wedding while dateless or find a date during the time she had left before leaving tomorrow. Good luck with that! She didn't know any nice guys who would go as her date, let alone be interested in her. Bill Blakely only knew Tara from the local bar and about her family since he paid for his grandfather's long term care home taking pictures for the tabloid magazines and had his picture published a year ago of the runaway bride. Volunteering to be her date would give him access to the family and a possible photo of the runaway bride and her new groom, but he soon finds out that he has feelings for her and no money is worth hurting her and possibly missing out on the love of his life.
I was given an ARC from the author/publisher. All conclusions are mine and mine alone.
Tara Bonander has hit a rough patch. She lost her job, her apartment and her almost fiancée. She doesn't want to make it worse by showing up at her cousin's wedding alone. After all there will be enough drama since Tiff is the infamous runaway bride. She asks Bill from her favorite bar to go with her. He agrees but he doesn't tell her that he wants photos of the bride and groom so that he can sell them. This is a dream come true for him. Neither thought that they would fall in love! I enjoyed this novella. It's sweet and very romantic. Bill is a white knight who wants to protect Tara. She is a sexy woman who is overwhelmed by all the Bonanders. I love the chemistry between these two as well as their flirty interaction. I wanted a HEA, but with Bill's deception I wasn't sure if Tara would forgive him. Of course there is drama with Tiff's wedding. I had a good time watching true love triumph. Melinda Curtis knows romance. I love the characters, the angst and the romance. Who could ask for more?
Tara Bonander finds herself in a tailspin when she loses her job, apartment and fiancé in a blink of n eye. What else could possible go wrong? Oh yes, she is supposed to go to her cousin’s secret wedding a.k.a as The Runaway Bride and her sister recently got engaged.
Bill Blakely is a celebrity photographer who needs a big picture so he can sell to the highest bidder. He met Tara six months ago at a bar that they both hanged out. When Tara asks him to the wedding as her pretend boyfriend so she does not have to go stag, it is his chance he cannot say no.
Along the way, the start to have feelings for each other but will he get a chance with Tara when she finds about who he really is? Will he sell out on his chance at love for a picture and money? A cute romance that is endearing.
Tara lost her job, her place to live and her boyfriend all in one day. She was having a drink trying to figure out what she would do and she also needed a date to her cousin's wedding. Then Bill, one of the regulars at the bar, offered to go as her date. Bill has ulterior motives, but he also is attracted to Tara. The more Bill gets to know Tara, the more he feels guilty about his reasons for being at the wedding. As they get to know each other better, Bill knows he has to forget about all his reasons for being at the wedding with Tara, but how can he do that? If he doesn't get the pictures that he needs, his grandfather will suffer and if he does, he will hurt Tara. There will have to be lots of groveling.
A wedding is happening at The Iron Gate Inn, located in Cedar City, Utah, and Tara Bonander needs a date. Tara's cousin, Tiffany Bonander, is getting married to Jackson Hardaway. Having just lost her job, apartment, and fiancé, Tara goes to the Corner Bar in Manhattan and handsome photographer, Bill Blakely, volunteers to go as her boyfriend. Crazy, unpredictable things occur at the inn between the families and Bill. Everything turns topsy turvy and twisted around. What starts out as being planned constantly changes. I enjoyed this light, fun series. The humorous wit that the author portrays during all of the catastrophes is what I consider a trademark. [I received this book for free and my honest opinion is my own.]
This novella shows the reader how family matters when challenges occur. While many families experience difficulties in relationships, the people that care deepest for you step up when you need them. In the context of Tara's perspective, this story brings the reader a conclusion to one bride's journey toward love while detouring into other family relationships. The novella packs a punch with all the new characters and relationship reveals. I loved the action between the main characters, Tara and Bill, as they worked out the secrets that challenged their relationship. The multiple subterfuges in the plot caused much laughter as the characters worked out solutions. I would highly recommend this novella and the preceding ones in this series.
This is the final book in the bridesmaid series focusing on the Bonander family and Tiffany, the runaway bride. Tara is a great character. After losing her job, apartment, and boyfriend, she has to be a bridesmaid for her cousin Tiffany's wedding. She ends up asking Bill, who she knows from the local bar, to attend the wedding with her. Unknown to her, Bill had an ulterior motive for wanting to attend the wedding. There was plenty of drama as Bill tried to keep his secret and yet started falling for Tara and her family. And there was plenty of wedding drama as Tiffany's wedding day approaches and everyone wonders whether or not she will go through with this one. I loved all of the characters and the story.
Tara was a bridesmaid who had just had everything go wrong with her life. She lost her job, her apartment, and her "fiancé". She was due at the wedding of the "Runaway Bride" and now she had no date.
Bill was just another regular at the Corner Bar where Tara went. The problem was he took photos of famous pictures and sold them to help pay his way in life. Tara didn't know this and ends up agreeing to him being her wedding date.
Will there be fireworks type of love or will there be love at all?