The Bride Next Door

Chapel of Love #4

by Hope Ramsay

Courtney Wallace loves her job as a wedding planner, but she's almost given up on her own happily-ever-after. She certainly doesn't it expect to find it with Matthew Lyndon, the hotshot lawyer she overhears taking a bet to seduce her. She's not amused by the challenge, but she decides to play along--after all, what better way to beat him at his own game?

Matt never intended to take the bet seriously. And moving next door wasn't part of his strategy to win-it was just a happy coincidence-but the more he gets to know Courtney, the more intrigued he becomes. When fun and games turn into something real, will these two decide they're in it to win it?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Small Town Romance, Contemporary

368 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 3, 2018

About the author

Hope Ramsay is a USA Today bestselling author of heartwarming contemporary romances, set below the Mason-Dixon Line. Her children are grown, but she has a beloved fur baby, Daisy the Cockapoo who keeps her entertained. Hope lives in the medium-sized town of Fredericksburg, Virginia and when she’s not writing or walking the dog, she spends her time knitting and noodling around on her collection of guitars.

Reviews

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Bride Next Door by Hope Ramsay is the fourth full length novel in the romantic Chapel of Love series. There is also two novellas that fit into this same series but like the full length titles all of these move onto new main characters as couples so they all could be read as a standalone if choosing to do so. There are however updates of former characters involved for those that follow the entire series.

In this installment Courtney Wallace is a wedding planner but unlike most of her friends she is still single and looking for her own happily ever after. Being single is really starting to hit Courtney as it seems her married friends are all announcing their pregnancies at once.

When Courtney is out with her friends she finds out that Matthew Lyndon, a hotshot lawyer and local playboy, has taken a bet that he can get ice queen Courtney into bed. Courtney decides to turn the tables and teach Matthew a lesson but little did she expect loosing her heart to a man that doesn’t fit into Courtney’s neat little box of what she expects.

I have to say that Courtney was not my favorite lead female of this series so far. Her attitude of everyone is some type of stereotype was annoying to me so I can’t imagine how a man would feel to be put into her labels. However, I did absolutely love Matt and his breaking all of Courtney’s molds she tried to fit him into.

This one also featured Matthew as he is learning the ropes as a lawyer working with his family and I loved that side of the story as well. Another Lyndon steps out of the family’s shadow and goes against the rest to help some residents of an apartment complex before they lose their homes. Great story to weave a romance into as you can’t help but feel for the clients in this one.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/

[CristiinaReads୨ৎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

➳Can happily ever afters, happen when you least expect them? That is a yes from this gal since Hope Ramsay has for sure outdone herself with this wonderful trope romance...



➳I'm not a big fan of trope romances, but this one I just found rather endearing to read and truly did enjoy it. When it comes down to rivals, two individuals that have nothing in common but the attraction for each other is present with a full force, this is the novel for you. Courtney and Matt are two characters that are totally the opposite when it comes down to the idea of being in a relationship. Courtney wants a happily ever after, with a romantic point of view to it. While Matt is the ultimate and ideal "playboy" image, but as compensating the title of a "playboy," Matt has to work his charm and "magic" to make Courtney try and be with him. The tables turn when one of them realizes that catching feelings is something that is there in the open...

➳This is a romance novel that took me a while to get into but the reason being is because I am not used to reading female main characters that are as stubborn and kind of annoying as Courtney is. She is very high spirits and that's something that maybe I would watch in an episode of the BRADY BUNCH, but through this romance novel I found it rather... unique, or different sort of say because of the personality Courtney has. Other than that, I enjoyed the writing style of this romance due to it being a third perspective and my triggers for those kind of romances is still present, I found this one interesting and enjoyable to read.



➳Overall, I do recommend this romance novel is you are looking for something quick, simple, and easy to read. It is indeed part of a series, but I have never read the previous books so it stands as a standalone for sure. Thank you once again to Forever Romance for providing this copy as I am looking forward to hopefully read more from Hope Ramsay...

➳ARC kindly provided by Forever Romance, in exchange for an honest review...

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[Kiki]

1. Hero is a misogynistic shit with double standards along with being a manchild with the maturity of the 2 month old. All his “alphaness” cannot be camouflaged as maturity to save his character. I can’t see how a strong heroine like this one would be able to go through a whole book without putting him down, which he’ll rightly deserve but of course won’t be romantic.
2. He almost had sex with OW IN FRONT of heroine, and she was rightfully not impressed.
3. He made a bet about seducing her.
Three strikes and you’re out.

[Readaholic Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great romance novel. Better than I expected.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this next book in Hope Ramsay's new series Chapel of Love.

Courtney and Matt are adversaries in the start of this book. Courtney is in the wedding business, she works for Edge Hill Manor in her capacity of Wedding and Events planner. Who oddly enough would like her own HEA, but she does not anticipate this with Matt Lyndon, who's family is Royalty in the State of Virginia. He is a the hot-shot new lawyer in town, after coming back from DC. Who is also a" Player" which does not fit in with her plan, and when she gets wind of a bet he made with one of her best friend's ex's, well she is going to beat him at his own game...But all bets are off when Matt moves in next door to Courtney and he begins to work his magic, not only on her, but her cat too..

I enjoyed this book, although it took me a bit to get to like Courtney at first. But she began to grow on me once you know her back story and her past relationships. And the more you see her character develop in the story the more you root for her to have the HEA after she deserves. I kind of liked Matt right from the beginning. Because his family is all powerful and his father was not treating him with the respect he deserved, you saw him buck the system as a lawyer and stand up for those who needed his help and he went to great lengths to prove his self worth to not only his family, but to Courtney and most of all himself.
I can honestly say this was one of my favs of the series. And I liked all the books in this series.

[Amanda Mahaffey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Courtney is all about putting guys in categories where she thinks they belong. Matt is young and feels like a disappointment to his dad. The story of these two getting together was great. They both have deal with their insecurities and trust issues from their past. I enjoyed this book I lived both of their stories and how they are able to work through it. Can't wait to read the next book in the series

[Sophia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here comes the... player and the man-hater! Sparks fly and a battle wages as the two least likely to walk down the aisle get their story.

The Bride Next Door is the fifth book in the Chapel of Love series. The stories wouldn't be impossible to read out of order, but this series really does work best when the reader takes it from the beginning. Both main characters have been around since the beginning and really got some page time in the last book, Here Comes the Bride.

Now, that said, maybe newbies who jump in with The Bride Next Door might do better with this one since they won't have all the previous scenes to develop antipathy toward both the hero and the heroine. Yep, this one was going to be a doozy for me any way I approached it.
See, I couldn't stand either Matt or Courtney in the last book. Matt earned his rep as a player with me when he sided with the thoughtless, selfish run-a-way groom in the last book and encouraged him to play the field before settling down. And Courtney? Well, this dear lady is one of the most cynical women there is having a label for everyone male and being more destructive of property and aggressive about revenge than the jilted bride. I'll be honest, I might have skipped this book if I'd been paying closer attention to who the protagonists were instead of just auto clicking because I love this author.

But, in the way of things, I'm glad I didn't realize and that I did click because I ended up enjoying much about this book. Both Matt and Courtney had a reason for their issues. I actually knew this because, hey, people don't get that jaded or cynical without a reason- at least I hope not.
I ended up falling for Matt long before I... let's say I learned to tolerate Courtney- never did fall for her. He turned out to have a lot more to him than just a player. And, in this story, he wasn't a player at all, but a wonderful hero who worked hard to batter away at Courtney's titanium wall and prove himself on the job as he worked to help a bunch of people to keep their homes and proving himself to his dad (I couldn't stand his dad who was always disappointed in Matt no matter what and always comparing him to others in the family including his brothers). He was more open to believing in chances and trying something than Courtney, well, until the end where he had to have his prerequisite huge mistake that fortunately, didn't last long.
With Courtney, I got sick of her man categories and constant suspicions (he's being the Player, oh wait, no more of a hybrid with the Perfect Man, but, or wait no make that Manwhore...and so on). Just when I think she's softening after the half-way point... nope, she hauls that tender feeling and trust stuff back in and dramas stuff up more than once. I hated seeing Matt make his mistake with her, but there was a fed up part of me that was happy to see her getting a taste of her own bitter medicine of what it's like to have someone label you and toss your truth and true feelings back as a slimy lie. I'm thinking that's not a good reaction to have in a romance book.

So, despite appearances here, I was actually rooting for this pair and enjoyed a few of the side plots like Matt's father, Matt's work with Arwem on the homes, and Courtney and her work. I think that's why I got frustrated with them. I got into seeing Courtney and Matt going from hostile to interested, learning about each other, and seeing there was so much more than other people even realized including me.

In summary, it was a surprise and better than I imagined. It had its iffy times so I liked it rather than loved it, but still adore this series and want more. Those who enjoy the more people-driven stories set against a small town should take a gander at the Chapel of Love series.

[Lisa (Remarkablylisa) · Rating 3 out of 5]

MY RATING: 3.5 STARS OUT OF 5

I was provided an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. 

I fell in love with my first Hope Ramsay book 'Here Comes the Bride' and when I heard the next one in the Chapel of Love Series was coming out, I knew I had to request to read it. Hope Ramsay is one of those underrated authors. She writes romances with the right touch of sweetness, angst, and complicated characters with complicated pasts. 

The Bride Next Door starts off with our heroine, Courtney, overhearing at the bar that someone is placing a bet on whether or not they could seduce her to his bed. Instead of getting angry, Courtney takes on the challenge to prove a point. She wants to play the game that Matt wants to play and win. It sounds super shady to have our hero supposedly try to trick his way into Courtney's arms but Ramsay doesn't write Matt to be that way. Courtney calls Matt a womanizer and a player. He's easy on the eyes and he has the incredible charm to make any woman swoon but Matt is also sweet, caring, and compassionate. It was totally not what I was expecting from Matt and definitely not something Courtney expected either. 

They decide to play the game lightly while Courtney does her job as a nurse turned wedding planner and Matt takes a position in his family law firm. Courtney has her doubts always. It got a little frustrating at times because Courtney kept putting labels on EVERYONE and judging everyone based on their appearances and their mannerisms. I wanted to throttle Courtney and tell her to stop putting labels on people around her because it's not fair to them. Especially to Matt who was always just trying to help Courtney in every way. I also would like to point out this is an older female and younger man romance. Almost by ten years. Which supposedly makes Courtney more wise. She also wants a baby because she feels her biological clock is ticking at thirty-six years old so she insists that Matt be her sperm donor. Don't worry guys, Matt doesn't agree but instead opts to try to date her. 

There were really cute moments in this book and I remember vividly of one perfect moment where Courtney just took all of Matt in and realized she's been wrong all the time. In addition, Matt has this messy back story that pulled my heartstrings. He's just this guy who wants to change the world for the better but he doesn't have the resources or manpower to do it. But I loved him for all these wholesome aspects.

To bad, I had difficulty with the later half of the book. There was too much drama that pulled these two apart that could have been fixed with proper communication. 

MY RECOMMENDATION 

I recommend you to read Hope Ramsay because she writes fantastic small town romances that are interesting and have characters that make you frown because of how sad their backstories are. 

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read most of Hope Ramsay’s books, and this one, compared to most of the others, came across as rather mediocre. My biggest problem was that the book was very predictable and about one quarter too long. At about the three-quarter mark, I knew what was going to happen, and then had to read through a lot of “filler” to get to the end. This was okay, just not all that interesting and made the book drag for me.

Courtney Wallace, a wedding planner, has given up on finding the man of her dreams. She wonders, from time to time, if she has set her sights too high, but then figures she would rather be alone than with someone she does not really love. In fact, at this point in her life, Courtney has devised categories for the men she encounters—e.g. the player, man baby, nice guy not, etc. She generally meets up with her friends at the local town bar hang out, where they meet to discuss what their lives are like, who is dating who, etc. One evening, Courtney is approached by Matt, son of a local prominent family, who has just returned home to work in his family law firm. Matt, a nice guy not, is not the type guy Courtney ever wanted to pair up with. In fact, Matt has just made a bet that he can seduce Courtney and get her into bed in a few short dates, but Matt does not know that Courtney knows about the bet. They begin dating, and things go better than expected by both. In fact, unbeknown to both, Matt moves into the apartment next to that of Courtney, so, though they may want to, they cannot avoid seeing and encountering each other regularly. As time passes, both Courtney and Matt learn things about each other they never would have believed, as they grow increasingly closer to each other.

Both Matt and Courtney were interesting characters and well developed by the author. There were other secondary characters sprinkled throughout, who were also well done an added a lot to the story. However, as I said, I think the book could easily have ended sooner, and then dragged toward the end, which is generally unusual in most books. This is part of a series but is really a stand-alone book. I have not read any other books in the series, but it never felt that this was part of a series or felt I needed to be familiar with them to understand or follow the story. The ending, of course, was very predictable, but it was interesting to watch the two characters, Matt and Courtney, move along through their daily routines, to get there. After reading the book, I’d say that this was actually a nice romance. There were a few sex scenes, but not many, and could easily be glossed over by anyone who prefers not to read the details. As I said, however, this will never be one of my favorite Hope Ramsay books. I received this from NetGalley to read and review.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life sometimes throws us curve balls. It’s up to us to decide what we are going to do with those opportunities and challenges. This story has its main characters, Courtney and Matt, but the “supporting characters” have some great stories going on too. I felt several different emotions as I got caught up in the story line. I just wanted it to keep going on.
I won an ARC copy of this book in a contest. I’m so happy luck was with me. My opinion of this book is my own.

[Gaele · Rating 3 out of 5]

Courtney is in her “zone” as a wedding planner: she’s got her life, her list about ‘men’ and with both of her friends now pregnant, she’s also got a ton of work to do. She’s well and truly out of the dating game (or so she tells herself) because in an instant she can put any man into a category and decide he’s not worth her time. At the heart of things – she’s scared that she’ll never have what her friends do: happiness, love and families on the way.

Matt is back in town after his job with an environmental lobbying firm was eliminated in DC. Unable to find more work in his chosen field, he’s returned to Shenandoah Falls and joined the family law firm – a job that most definitely isn’t what he hoped for. In addition, Matt’s reputation as a ladies man precedes him. He’s handsome and honestly wants to do well, but he’s riddled with insecurities at the law firm where the pro-bono cases have been dropped in his lap. But, like all boys – he’s made a bet with a friend that he’ll be able to take Courtney out – not really meaning anything more than that. He finds her attractive and intriguing – made only more so by her apparent untouchability.

Of course, Courtney finds out about the bet – with a bit of a warning-off by the town cop, and she’s decided she’ll play Matt to teach him a lesson. But things are much deeper: she’s unaccountably attracted to him, even as she repeatedly tries to fob him off with dismissive comments, a sharp and snide attitude and general unpleasantness.

Unlike others in this series: this story has plenty of outside input from other couples in town: with plenty of moments where Matt’s actual desire to do the best for the people he’s representing, and our realization that Courtney’s quick dismissal of him and ‘his type’ are more representative of her own insecurities and fears than anything he actually is. Matt is solid and strong – with a determination to make the best of the situation he’s in at the law firm, do the best for his clients, and wanting to make a real impression on his family where he’s always felt like the afterthought. Slowly, and with plenty of pushback, Courtney comes to see Matt for who he is – and her constant second-guessing of his motives and intentions do slowly slide away – but not until the frustration with her immature behavior had me (and some of those around her) more frustrated with her than supportive.

A bit of a difficult story – I was glad to see Courtney find a match: and Matt seems to be level enough – and strong enough in his own self to withstand her on again off again affections and maturity, but it just was a long road to the happy ending. It was nice to check in with others from the series and see their lives moving forward, and there is something rather comforting in the small town of Shenandoah Falls – a decent installment for fans of the series.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at I am, Indeed

[books are love · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received in exchange for a honest review.

This was sweet. I loved how Matt wasn’t what Courtney thought. He kept surprising her and she began to see who he really was.

Matt wasn’t stuck up or competitive and he certainly wasn’t a player. He was a young man who was trying to survive the shark waters that was his family. He struck out on his own and forged a path but bad luck hit and he ended up coming home. He went to work for his dad where he was treated like a lackey by many. He had alot of self doubt due to his family but he was a sweet and caring guy. When it came to his clients at the apartment complex he really cared and did all he could for them. Even when some thought he was incompetent and arrogant, he ignored it all and put everything he could into helping his clients and doing what was right. He showed people he wasn’t what they thought. He wasn’t cutthroat or a player. He was kind and caring. He was intelligent and honest. I understood at the end when he didn’t trust Courtney but than let go of his issues and truly let her in and gave her the chance.

Courtney had some issues with trust as did Matt but hers went deeper. She was angry and frustrated. Great at her job but wary of happy ever afters. She was also very loyal and kind. Her fears of losing people got her to do something to help in a situation she normally wouldn’t get involved in. when she first sees Matt it wasn’t under good conditions. He was taking on a bet about her and she let him have it . From there her opinion of him could only go up but it wasn’t easy for him.She thought of him as spoiled, arrogant and a player so when he moved in next to her she was not very happy. Over time she saw who he really was and they fell for each other.

The chemistry between these two flew off the page. They were two people who supported and respected one another. Only for Courtney she never really trusted Matt. It almost ruins their relationship. when she heard what his dad did to him over the apartment complex clients, she was mad for him showing that she loved him but it was almost to late. They both needed to work on trust and letting go of the past. When they finally work things out it is wonderful and sweet at the end.

A wonderful sweet story that flows well and has you smile as these two learn about one another and fall in love.

[Jamie Beck · Rating 5 out of 5]

I admit, this cover drew me in from the start. That plus a heroine who is single amid a sea of married friends and I’m in. I can relate to that woman (having been one of the last of my friends to marry). I can also relate to the walls that build up when love seems to find everyone but you for so long.

Typically, I am not a fan of trope-driven romance (bet, opposites attract), but in this case I went with it and it worked. Hope Ramsay writes with a very nice balance of sweetness, a little snark, and a lot of realism. I knew her ability to flesh out characters and plots would turn what could’ve been a superficial tropey book into something with real meat. And she did!

Yeah, the hero makes a bet to seduce the heroine, and in today’s political climate, that’s tough. But I’m fine with a hero who is kind of a jerk in the beginning of the story if he then realizes the error of his ways and evolves as his feelings for the heroine grow. That’s what we’ve got here, so again, I love it (and I love that he stood up to his family to help some unfortunate tenants, too!). It gets even better because Matthew breaks through Courtney’s walls, one by one, and helps her evolve as well so she can finally give and accept real love.

In the end you have two people who are each better off because of the other, and who earned their HEA. Looking forward to the next book in this series.

[Sharon Moritz-rosenthal · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an arc from NG for review.

I am a new fan of this author and I have read two books prior to this one. Of all of them this was my least favorite. However it is well written and my dislike had more to do with the age gap between the two main characters than anything else.

Courtney is a wedding planner at Matt's cousins resort. She is about 8 years older than him, mid 30's. Matt is 28 and a lawyer with his dad and brother at the companies firm. A bet is made that Matt will bed C and C knows about the bet so that is how they start hanging out together. Matt thinks C is the hottest woman ever and he wants her badly. And eventhough C does not like Matt, she lusts for him.

And that is pretty much the plot. There are other elements like Matt fighting for this development that wants to evict some of C's friends but what really bothered me about this book is that C looks down on Matt a lot and thinks of him as this man baby. Not that she is right, Matt is a strong alpha-ish man, but I didn't like how she treated him because of his age.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a delightful read. The heroine is actually older than the hero. Great pick for the summer!

[Elizabeth H. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review written by Marie for Ever After Book Reviews!

I have to be honest, this one was a little hard for me to chew for a while. But, as the story went on, I warmed a little bit to the characters and their storyline. I think it’d be difficult for me to write a true “review” of the novel, so I’ll break it down in to a more what I liked/didn’t like kind of format.

What I Liked
- The secondary characters. Throughout this book, they were the driving force that kept the storyline moving and added depth to the main characters. I enjoyed the interactions they had with one another and with Courtney and Matt, as well as being able to visit old friends from the previous novels in the series.
- The fun. Honestly, as much as Courtney and Matt grated on my nerves (more about that later), the fun that they had on their way to happily ever after was entertaining. I’m not usually one that likes stories where the main characters try to “one-up” each other, but in the spirit of it being a “light-hearted” romance, it worked.
- The happily ever after. Yes, it took forever to get there, but it was worth it in the end.

What I Didn’t Like
- Courtney and Matt. These two people are exactly the kinds of people I have very little respect for. They are egotistical, manipulative, and arrogant. Traits that turn me off about people. Put the two of them together, and their antics were, at times, horrible. Sadly, and yes, I say sadly, for this storyline, it worked.
- Matt being a “player” and legitimately trying to hurt Courtney. Uncool, dude. Regardless of it being a bet or not. Totally uncool.
- The road to the happily ever after. IT. TOOK. FOREVER. I’m not sure if it was the author’s intention to make this the longest and most cynical journey to a happy ending I’ve ever experienced, but if it was… she succeeded with flying colors.

Final Thoughts
While I wasn’t thrilled with a lot of the aspects of this story, it really did work. Matt and Courtney are two peas in a pod that deserve one another, and I have to be honest, I was delighted when they finally did get together. I’m still not 100% convinced that this is a “forever” kind of romance, but for the short-term, it definitely leaves you happy.

***I voluntarily read a copy of the book generously provided by Forever Romance in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and feelings are my own***

[Marjorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shenandoah Falls, Virginia, is far enough away from the DC area to have a small town feel, yet close enough to attract greedy developers who want to make hefty changes to it. The apartment complex in Dogwood Estates is feared to be demolished and the residents driven out. Matthew Lyndon, single at 25, has just started working at the Lyndon family law firm. With Arwen’s help as a paralegal, they try and salvage the lives of those living there. Courtney Wallace, single at 36, believes her chances at finding love and family have slipped away. As an event and wedding planner at Eagle Hill Manor, she can’t help but notice that most of her friends and acquaintances have found true love, gotten married, and either have children or are pregnant. If only she could find someone who wasn’t on her negative-types she has categorized all single men in. Both Courtney and Matt have had past experiences that caused them to not to trust a new relationship, and yet they are attracted to each other. They become closer after Matt moves into the apartment next door. I especially liked the scenes at the Jaybird Cafe and Music Hall, which is the place where most of Courtney’s and Matt’s friends end up at the end of the day. I enjoy the witty humor Hope Ramsay brings to her stories. Serious problems are added with the town attempting to solve them. The Lyndon elders are a challenge to deal with. Their heirs try to break away and make a life of their own, a challenge of its own. This town may be a bit disjointed, but there are some that try to save it for their own future. [I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author.]

[BookAddict · Rating 4 out of 5]

Courtney is a wedding planner in her quaint home town. While she’s busy planning each bride's perfect day, she’s also watching most of her single friends enjoying their own happily ever afters and now starting families. She’s torn between wanting her own ever after or resigning herself to cat lady spinsterhood, because every guy she meets conveniently fits into her preconceived, labeled boxes like Man Baby, Hook-up Artist or Emotionally Unavailable. When she finds out that Matt makes a bet he can hook up with her, she decides to teach him a lesson.

I became a fan of this author as I blazed my way through her Last Chance series yet somehow missed this series when it started, so I jumped at the chance to read an advance copy of this book. I think this is a book that’s meant to be a bit tongue-in-cheek and not taken too seriously. Otherwise, there are plenty of potential offenses, with a young, cocky, womanizing hero who bets his friend he can get “the Ice Queen" into bed, and a heroine who pigeonholes all potential dates into one loser slot or another before getting to know them. There are definitely some examples of what not to do, and going on this journey with Matt and Courtney as they grow and change is as heartfelt as it is fun. So sit back, relax and prepare to be entertained, and possibly glean a few bits of wisdom along the way.

*I reviewed this book freely and voluntarily, having made no commitment to provide a review and receiving no compensation of any kind from any source for this review.

[N.D. Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really fun small town romance featuring a sassy and cynical heroine and a playboy-ish middle child who each have the other ALL wrong. Courtney has placed Matt squarely in the column of the love’em and leave’em type and Matt has earned it. And then some.

But after learning that he bet he could bed the Ice Queen, she decides to give him a taste of his own medicine and that’s where the fun really begins. Though she only really makes them a little tough for him and not for very long, I was happy about that because the attraction and the chemistry was too palpable to keep up the game for too long.

Matt has his own history and it’s not what you’d expect from a player like him. He has a family he doesn’t fit in with and a father he can never make proud, but still he tries and it’s no different with Courtney. She’s smart and funny and lives to torture him, but he doesn’t give up.

Well…

This was pretty much a perfect small town romance. There was plenty of heat, but not too much, lots of laughs and a fun cast of supporting characters, including two adorable kittens. There were a few parts in the middle that meandered a little but I devoured The Bride Next Door in just a day or two.

It's been a while since I’ve read Hope Ramsay but she delivered. Again.

[Janga · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fourth novel in Ramsay’s Chapel of Love series. It is rich in small-town appeal, family dynamics, and the ties of friendship. How much readers like the book will depend largely upon how much they like the protagonists. Courtney and Matt are not immediately sympathetic characters. Since simplistic labels are a pet peeve of mine, I had a hard time liking Courtney. Matt behaves like a jerk initially, but I found him easier to like since it is clear early on that there is more to him than his player façade. Eventually, I was invested in both characters and rooting for their HEA. And I loved the start of a romance between a Jewish legal assistant/singer-songwriter and an Irish bartender. I hope we see more of them in an upcoming book.

If you like small-town romance with heart and a sure contemporary touch, add this one to your list. Fans of the series will likely enjoy seeing characters from the earlier novels, but it is not necessary to have read the first three novels and two novellas to enjoy this one.

See full review at The Romance Dish:
http://www.theromancedish.com/2018/04...

[Margaret Dombrowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC. I have been following Hope Ramsey for quite some time now. This new series, Chapel of Love, that takes place in Shenandoah Falls, WV is quite setup as a small town but near enough to the D.C. area to bring in varied levels of income and status on the economic ladder.

Out of this whole series, I initially had a hard time warming up to Courtney and Matt. Courtney is a jaded and cynical woman. She likes to put labels on men, and passes judgement quickly. Her history with men had made her this way. As for Matt, he appears to be the epitome of a playboy from a wealthy family. However, because he is a middle child, he alot to compete with his siblings and cousins.

Courtney and Matt, after some back and forth of sparring, teasing and playing some serious mind games, get their act together and figure out that they both compliment each other.

Out of this series, this turned out to be my favorite book because it brought out alot of emotions in me towards the characters.

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I have enjoyed all of the books by this author that I have read. I have read all the books so far in the Chapel of Love series. I liked this one, but not quite as much as the others. It is a good story, but I think too many characters' relationships were mentioned, but very little was told about each. I get that the story is about the main characters, Matt & Courtney, and other characters need to be mentioned, but I would have preferred to see less couples, and a bit more about each couple and more interaction between the main characters and less other characters. I liked the second half of the book better than the first half. I wasn't as interested in the secondary story about the housing case. Usually I do like the secondary stories, this one just didn't seem to hold my interest. Overall, I did enjoy the book and would recommend reading it, especially if you have been following the series.

[Leslie Ooten · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't a fan of this one. The two main characters, Courtney and Matt, both have issues that needed to be dealt with. Courtney automatically puts every guy she meets into a category, regardless of the fact that she knows nothing about them personally. She was harassing a guy that left his fiancee at the alter, even though it had nothing to do with her. Matt was trying to pick Courtney up because of a bet he made with the guy she was harassing. I didn't really like them together. I wasn't a fan of the 3 POV either. Courtney's friend Arwen was given her own voice in this story. I didn't really like having another person's thoughts to read. She should have her own story, not part of this one. This was a first for me from this author, but I would give her another read.
I voluntarliy reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book.

[Francis M. Prensa · Rating 5 out of 5]

ADORABLE!!!!
Well not in the beginning, in the beginning it was pretty obvious, Courtney was classifying each and every man, putting them in categories, and giving up on love all together, when i read this book all I thought was (this woman is HELLA insecure, and that’s annoying). Then we meet Matt, he has his share of insecurities and that gets tested, but he pushes that aside, and goes after his woman!
What I love is how they were both trying to one each other, Matt was part of a bet that he later on dropped because he started to develop feelings for her and Courtney wanted to prove that he was whatever the heck she thought he was and play him herself..... at the end they got their happy ending.

[Heather andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matt tries to do the honorable thing at times, “get this straight. I’m happy to tell you bedtime stories. In fact, I need to tell you this particular story. But no ***. Not tonight. You’ve had too much to drink.” Matt is realizing that it's the little things that make his girl happy, “I have time,” he lied . He didn’t have time, but he would make time this morning. Her smile was so wide..." Matt is an easily distracted man, “yes. Now be quiet. I have something to say.” He paused a moment. “Um, but before I say it, you might want to tighten the belt on that beautiful robe because, uh…” She looked down. Her boobs were about to make an appearance..." I liked this book, I loved Matt.

[Mindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable read. Courtney feels she's the last of her friend that's still single and not pregnant, oh, and her biological clock is ticking. But even with all that she's still relationship shy because of some image hangups and high school drama. Matt has moved back home after loosing his job, joining his father's law firm at the bottom of the totem pole, it's not easy. He also feels he needs to prove himself to his father. Courtney sees Matt as a hookup artist, not her style, even if he wasn't so much younger than her, but does he make her melt. Well written, great main and supporting characters and fun story line.

[Denise Kulesa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a hard time getting into this book at first but glad I stuck with it as ended up liking it.

Courtney overhears two friends placing a bet to seduce her. Matt takes the bet and thinks he can work his usual charms and get her to fall for him and then he can walk away.

Neither of them counted on actually falling in love. Courtney goes to bat with some unscrupulous folks and involves some of Matt's family making him truly see she is different from everyone else.

When Courtney finds out she is pregnant, Matt is angry at first and believes she is just like his ex Allison. However, one of his uncles tells him Courtney is the real deal.

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spring makes me think of weddings. That makes it the perfect time for the next installment in Hope Ramsays Chapel of Love series. We’ve watch Courtney judge everyone around her for the past few books. Now, she’s met her match in Matthew Lyndon. Courtney and Matt are fun from page one. Both tend to judge current circumstances by past experiences, though more dramatically than most. Watching them lose their shields and let each other in keeps you turning pages. After all, how can a CAT GUY be all bad...?

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this novel.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The main female character, Courtney, is rather jaded as far as men go. She has distinct categories that she likes to put them in and none of them are flattering. Matthew is a guy that she knows and that she has pegged. When she hears him take a bet that he can get her into bed, she is very determined that he won't...but she goes out with him anyway. A battle of whits commences, with each trying to outdo the other as far as not doing what the other expects.
The Bride Next Door was a very fun read and I can't wait to read more of the series.

[Susan Gwisdala · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so happy to finally be able to read Courtney & Matthew's story. The book, as always, was very well written. I really enjoy that the characters from the prior books in the series are always showing back up in the new stories. This was a very quick read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is very much like returning to visit old friends. I hope that there are many more books left in the series and Hope is always one of my go to authors.